Joy was born on January 24, 1939 in Vivian, Louisiana to Jay Sloan Cole and Dorothy Ward Cole. Her formative years were spent in Vivian, living at Rogers Station, where her father worked for Arkla Gas. After graduating from North Caddo High School in 1957, she attended Northwestern State College, where she was a member of Tri-Sigma sorority and graduated with a degree in education. Through a mutual acquaintance, she met a young man named George Donald Rucker. A strong connection formed, and they were married after graduation on July 15th, 1961. The young couple moved to New Orleans for Don to attend medical school. While there, she put her degree to use, teaching at a local elementary school. Don’s career took them to Little Rock, and eventually back to Shreveport, where she lived the rest of her busy life. Three children followed (two in eleven months!), and she began her true career as a mother and the eventual matriarch of her growing family.
She played tennis for many years, stopping only when she felt she no longer could. She was very involved in her Sunday school, and she lived her life according to the strong love for the Lord she held in her heart. She loved her neighborhood friends, and their get-togethers. The group even moved from one neighborhood to another together as their children grew up and moved out. After retirement, Joy and Don travelled extensively around North America and Europe. They spent a lot of time at their second home in Angel Fire, NM. Hers was a life lived well and loved well.
Joy was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy and Jay Cole. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, George Donald Rucker, her three children; George Donald Rucker Jr. and his wife Wendy, Lori Rucker Rosenthal and her husband Trey, and Amy Rucker Johnson and her husband Webster; her sister Bonnie Jane Cole, as well as seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all of whom loved her and will miss her dearly.
A visitation for Joy will be held on Friday, July 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel at First Baptist Church at 543 Ockley Drive in Shreveport. Services will take place at 11:00 a.m., followed by internment at Centuries Memorial Park at 8801 Mansfield Road in Shreveport. Pall bearers will be Webster Johnson, Peyton Rucker, Benjamin Rosenthal, Jacob Rosenthal, Paul Ramsay and Cole Terzia. Honorary pall bearers will be Randy Brown, Randy Cooper and Louis Leonards.
The family would like to thank Dr. Anil Veluvolu and the Willis Knighton Cancer Center staff and well as the many friends that lent their support. They request that any memorials be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital or the children’s charity of their choice.
