Joy graduated from Taylor High School before earning a degree in deaf education at Texas Christian University (TCU). She dedicated a decade of her life, from 2008 to 2018, to the afterschool program at the Trinity Lutheran Child Development Center. Her commitment to her children’s faith was also important by participating in church activities with family friends, David and Laurie Joiner.

Joy was a familiar face at the Community Senior Center, where she enjoyed playing bunco and bingo, as well as cherished the companionship of new and old friends. Her love for shopping was wellknown, often marked by her unique fashion choices, such as her beloved patchwork jeans. Joy is survived by her brother, Bobby Ray Ponkoney; her daughters, Dawn Ponkoney (Ward), Tina Ponkoney (Gordon), Jennifer Ponkoney (Slipis) and Stephanie Ponkoney; and her grandchildren Isaac, Noah and Caleb Oetting; Cash Ward, Mason and Mia Slipis; and Payton and Kooper Gordon. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert “Bob” Ponkoney and Jacqulyn Bingham.

A service to celebrate Joy’s life will be held on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Providence Funeral Home in Taylor, Texas.