Joy Walker Stone, 84, passed away on January 18, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was born in New Boston, Texas to Ruby McClendon Walker and Thomas Melton
Walker. She grew up in a loving family that valued education, creativity
and equality. She married Harold Ben Stone and settled in Dallas, where
they raised three children. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Art Education
and a Master of Arts in Fine Arts from Texas Woman’s University.
Her thesis research focused on Navajo weaving. She began her career as
an art educator in the Dallas Independent School District and continued
at the Dallas Craft Guild and Dallas Community College. For twenty years,
she served as Director of Specials Programs at Tulsa Community College,
where she developed comprehensive community adult education classes. Working
from her studio, she made award-winning art in a variety of media. She
was a skilled jeweler, weaver, calligrapher, photographer, textile artist,
painter, and designer. She built an adobe house in New Mexico where she
spent summers with friends and family and also built a house in Mexico
where she lived for five years. Joy was an adventuresome world traveler
and curious explorer. She was an active member of All Souls Unitarian
Church. Spiritually positive, she saw the best in all people. A pioneer
woman artist, art educator and college administrator, Joy was an inspiring
role model to everyone who knew her. She will be remembered for her generosity
of spirit and her passion for life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her former husband, her sister
Joan Walker Simpson, and her brother Bob L. Walker. She is survived by
her children: Harold Ben Stone, Jr. (Ann Nelson Stone), Judy Stone-Nunneley,
Timothy Stone, and grandson Stephen Stone (Elizabeth Stone), her great-grandson
Sterling Stone, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A memorial service will be at All Souls Unitarian Church on Saturday, March
18 at 1pm. Memorial contributions may be made to The Navajo Water Project
(navajowaterproject.org).