Wife, Mother, Daughter-in-law, Sister, Mother-in-law, Grandmother, Care Giver and Friend
Joy excelled in all of these!
Laurel Joy Matthews was born August 20, 1939, at the family home on Stuart Street in Denver with a mid-wife in attendance. Her mother Hazel was 40 years old and her Father Jim was 47. Joy’s two older sisters Dorothy and Jerri were married in the same month.
Her older brother Doyle never married. Joy’s father Jim died of brain cancer when Joy was 12 years old and her oldest sister Dorothy had returned home with a severe case of Parkinson disease. Joy as the youngest in the family began learning how to be a care giver at an early age. Helping to care for her sister Dorothy and brother Doyle. Joy’s mother Hazel had a series of strokes that finally required total care. Joy and her sister Jerri took care of their mother until her death.
In addition to caring for family members, Joy had also helped several elderly widows with shopping, banking and doctor’s visits. It was a family joke that someone has to watch mom so she doesn’t adopt another elderly lady to care for whenever we are out somewhere. And in fact, Joy seeks out older people to talk to and many times ends up helping them with their needs.
Joy married Eldon Buller on June 7, 1959 at Sheridan Blvd. Church of Christ. They met in church and started going steady in 1954 when they were 14 years old.
She was a great and loving wife, a best friend and constant companion to Eldon who loved her dearly. Joy had two children Mitch who is married to Ginny, and Gaye who is married to Glenn Ribble.
She has four grandchildren. Jason Buller who is married to Shuo, Cody Buller who is married to Melissa, Briana Davis who is married to Matt and Brandon Ribble who is married to Tkale. She was also blessed to see five great grandchildren. Talon, Tinley & Tiana Joy Ribble, Kennedy & Silas Davis.
Joy was baptized in the Church of Christ and was a lifelong dedicated Christian.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Colorado Christian Services, 3959 E. Arapahoe Road, Suite 200, Centennial, CO 80122 or American Cancer Society - Denver, 10065 E. Harvard Ave., Ste 400, Denver, CO 80231, in Joy's loving memory.
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