Preston Joy

William Preston Joy passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, after a tragic battle with COVID-19. He was 70 years old at the time. Preston was born on November 28, 1949, in Roosevelt, Texas, and was the last baby to be delivered at home in Kimble County. He was a 1968 graduate of Junction High School and later graduated from Angelo State University with a bachelor’s degree in business.

Through his high school years, Preston was as good of an athlete as anyone who had come before him or anyone who would come after him. He had a competitive nature which always pushed him to win. There are a lot of Junction athletes who played with his two sons who will tell you that it wasn’t hard to hear Preston over the rest of the crowd at a home football game. That competitiveness and a desire to always do things right made him very successful in anything he set his mind to over the years.

His last love was coaching his grandkids in sports. His wife, Vera, once asked him, “Are you ever going to let either of the boys beat you in basketball?” His reply was simply, “They can win when they truly beat me.” That drive and determination often made Preston come across as a hard and strict father and grandfather. Both of his boys and all of his grandchildren will quickly tell you he had a heart of gold. If a person anywhere in this area were to ask about Preston Joy, they would get the same answer that after a person talks to Preston Joy you will know exactly what is on his mind and how he feels about you. He would always say, “They may not like me but they will respect me.”

Preston was preceded in death by his father H. O. (Dutch) Joy and his brother Olly Joy.

He is survived by his mother, Ruby Joy; his sister, Jean Joy; and one brother, Edward Joy. He is also survived by his loving wife of fifty years, Vera Joy, and two sons, Cash Joy and wife, Christy Joy, with grandkids Taylor Joy and Dandi Joy, and Chane Joy and wife, Ashley Joy, with grandkids, Avery Hernandez (Joy), Parker Joy and Dock Joy.

“Until we meet again, I will miss my best friend and father every day.”—Chane