Joan H. Markey was born on September 21, 1929 to James Edward and Helen Kendall Hargadon in Louisville, Kentucky. She grew up in Louisville where she attended Presentation Academy, a Catholic High School for girls and graduated in 1948. After high school she held various sales jobs. When her father decided to take a good job opportunity in Dallas, Texas in the early 1950’s she accompanied her parents and younger brother Patrick in the move. Her older brother James was in the seminary at the time. In Dallas, Joan found work as at Chance Vaught and later Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator. She was active in St. Bernard’s Church where she met William F. Markey, a mechanical engineer at a Catholic singles dance. They later married on April 16, 1955. After marriage, Joan was a housewife and loving mother to Ellen, Kevin, Michael and Brian. Joan was gregarious and could talk to anyone. She enjoyed antique shows, garage sales and shopping. She later worked various sales positions and had her own house cleaning business. She had many friends and would try to help others. In her later years she became afflicted with vascular dementia. Joan was able to enjoy her grandchildren, Sean, Joseph, Olaith and Seamus and usual activities for a long time before she became unable to live alone. By the time she had a great-granddaughter, Keelin, she was more impaired but still took great delight in her. In the last few years, Joan was a resident in Villages of Lake Highlands. She was known for her friendly smile and kisses, the favorite shades of pink she wore and her hats. She was an active walker and hard to catch up with. Her health declined in the last few months. She became ill with pneumonia on October 31, 2018 and passed away on November 5, 2018.
Joan is survived by her younger brother Patrick Charles Hargadon; children Ellen, Kevin, Michael and Brian; grandchildren Sean, Joseph, Orlaith and Seamus and great-granddaughter, Keelin. She is preceded in death by her parents and brother Reverend James E. Hargadon.
The family wishes to thank the staff and physician team with the Villages of Lake Highlands, her outside providers, Brookdale Hospice and all the volunteers who saw her weekly from St. Patricks’ Church. We also appreciate the kind concern and support from Sparkman-Crane Funeral Home.
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