Joy Sue Yeater Cook, (78), passed into the loving arms of God on July 1, 2015, surrounded at home by her family. Joy waged a valiant fight against ovarian cancer, and won that battle with the sure and certain hope of eternal life given through the grace of God.
Joy was born December 1, 1936, in Ashland, Ohio to Lloyd Samuel Yeater and Marie Evalene Van Gilder Yeater. She attended schools in Hayesville, Ohio, graduating as Salutatorian in the class of 1954 with whom she shared many happy reunions through the last 61 years. She received her nursing diploma from Good Samaritan School of Nursing and worked in the maternity area. After meeting at a dance at the University of Cincinnati, Joy married Richard Finley Cook on December 22, 1957 and spent the rest of her life raising a family and providing a happy, loving home for her husband and three daughters, Sue Ann Peacock (Kelvin), Sharon Marie Freeze (Mark) and Sally Marlene Nicholson (Edward). Her grandchildren, Allison Peacock (Simon), Molly Peacock, Lisa Peacock; Clara Freeze, Sam Freeze; Chloe Nicholson and Joseph Nicholson always found an open door and a loving presence in their lives.
Joy volunteered and enjoyed her church families, Grace Lutheran in Pittsburgh, Pa, Holy Trinity Lutheran and St Philip Lutheran, especially serving in the women's ministry in many roles, on a local, state and national level. Joy set a high standard for hospitality, even bringing soup and homemade apple sauce to the cancer doctors and nurses who administered her chemotherapy over the 7 years she bravely faced cancer with her loving, supportive Richard by her side. Joy served on the board at Camp Agape, helping to improve the place where her grandchildren spent so many happy summers at church camp. Joy and Richard were honored with the David L. Castor Award for volunteerism in 2011, for their faithful work.
Joy enjoyed spending time quilting, sewing, building jigsaw puzzles, reading, traveling, attending the symphony, and other cultural events, and loved spending time with many, many special friends too numerous to list. There are so many people impacted by the kindnesses and joy she exuded...her parents named her well!
Joy was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Jim and Jerry. She is survived by her two brothers Gene (Janice) and Tom (Kate), and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Joy's life will be held at 11:00 on Wednesday July 8, 2015, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2723 Clark Avenue, Raleigh 27607, followed by a reception with the family immediately after in the church Fellowship Hall and a private interment at a later date.
The family would like to thank Dr. Laura Havrilesky and her staff at Duke Cancer Center for their loving and sensitive care, and in lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Lohr Special Music Endowment Fund at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, or to Agape + Kure Beach Ministries.
"Sea shells remind us that every passing leaves something beautiful behind."
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