Joy Marks

H. Joy Marks
Joy was born Dec. 2, 1921 in Tangent, Oregon, and passed from this life Nov. 13, 2015. She was the third child of Delaware and Emma (Vollstedt) Faulkner. Joy was named Henrybelle at birth, the combination of the names of Del’s favorite brother and Emma’s mother’s, both of whom passed shortly before Joy’s birth. She grew up being known as "Henry" or "Hank", and it was only during her last year of college she changed to using her middle name. 
Del was a mechanic by trade, though during the Great Depression there was little trade to work on. Emma, with the two girls worked cannery and field work to make ends meet. Joy graduated from Albany schools and then as a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority earned a Bachelor’s degree at Oregon State. She then worked in the Ag/Econ department at OSU before being introduced to her husband on a blind date by a sorority sister. She and Gayle were married in 1948.
With husband Gayle, after he completed his degree at OSU, she moved to Hermiston, or as her boss the department chair at OSU, put it, "from the land of ever rain to the land of never rain". While embracing the sand and sagebrush of Eastern Oregon, she never lost her love of the greenery of the Willamette Valley.
Hermiston at the time (1949) was booming, with Umatilla Ordinance Depot, Hinkle rail yard and the building of McNary Dam all happening. Finding a residence was a challenge, though the couple found a rental on Beebe street. They considered themselves fortunate as many (with good jobs) were forced to live in tar paper shacks or houses hastily thrown together out of empty ammunition boxes. 
They bought a house on E. Ridgeway Where sons Tom and Rodney joined their lives. In 1964 built the home they were to live in for the rest of their lives, on a bluff overlooking the Umatilla River.
Joy was a ‘stay at home’ mom, until the sons were out of the house, though even then, always involved in charity work and various clubs around town. She was an avid and keen card player, with a spirit of competitiveness that could be truly amazing. She belonged to the same bridge group for over 60 years , was a past president of Chapter DR of P.E.O. and a decades long volunteer with the Good Shepherd Hospital Auxiliary. She was a long time member of the First Christian Church.
Joy was an accomplished seamstress, constantly knitting, crocheting and creating. Her upbeat attitude to life and her sense of humor even in difficult times were a blessing to all.
At age 85, in response to the urging of family, who thought all the memories she had needed recording, she tackled learning word processing on a computer. Although a lifetime touch typist, to her the computer was quite a foreign animal. Yet she began writing of her life story. This unpublished book finally ran to 180+ pages and is eye opening in the details of a life that spanned 93+ years, the Great Depression, a World War, raising two sons and life in Hermiston from the town’s formative years to today.
Joy was preceded in death by both parents, her husband Gayle, and son Rodney and his wife Jeannie. Also by her brother Marion, her sister Katherine (and All Katherine’s family). She is survived by son Tom, Grandsons; Jacob (Meghan), Derek (fiancé, Sarah), Devon, Granddaughters Amy Runion and Katelyn Marks and two Great Grandsons, Benjamin (from Jake) and Noah (from Derek). 
Memorial services will be at the First Christian Church at 11A.M. on Friday the 20th. The family asks in lieu of flowers, contributions go to Agape House.
Please sign the guest book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.

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