Joybell Schalk

To quote Gainesville Daily Register's columnist Tom Kennedy from an article he published in the paper Sunday, September 10, 2006: "There is only 1 Joybell Schalk." On September 10, 2015, we had to say goodbye to her. Mrs. Schalk succumbed to complications due to Multiple Myeloma (cancer) early Thursday morning.

Joybell was born to Ray E. and Joy (Bell) Die March 5, 1945 in Nacogdoches, Texas. In 1957, the family moved to Gainesville where Mr. and Mrs. Die were educators in GISD. Joybell transitioned well and excelled in academics as well as extra-curricular activities. In 1958, the Blue Blazes drill team was formed with Mrs. Schalk elected to Captain -- making this group of Gainesville girls the first-ever junior high school drill team in the state of Texas. In 1959, the new Gainesville High School was opened making Joybell a member of the first freshman class. With the new building came the formation of the White Wave drill team primarily composed of those original Blue Blaze members. Mrs. Schalk was elected Captain all four years of high school as the only White Wave member to hold the spot four consecutive years. Active in choir with All-State accolades and leads in the musicals, she also graduated as Valedictorian of the Gainesville HS Class of 1963.

Mrs. Schalk attended TCU graduating in 1967 with a 4.0 GPA. She joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority as a freshman and was president of the sorority her junior and senior years. It was during this time she was introduced to the man she would marry through her mother Joy Die. She married Thomas E. Schalk on August 19, 1967 and had two children: Thomas Rey (Trey) (1969) and Joyann (1974).

Mrs. Schalk loved teaching and helping others. She devoted thirty-five years to educating many. She also managed and choreographed for the White Wave and Blue Blazes drill teams. She was an active member of Whaley United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir. She volunteered in local organizations and was on the board for the GISD Foundation.

Joybell Schalk is survived by her loving husband of 48 years Thomas Schalk of Gainesville, mother Joy Die of Lake Kiowa, son Trey with wife Amy Schalk of Austin, daughter Joyann with husband Brad Cooke, grand-daughter Addelyn and grand-son Mackson of Highland Village.

She was preceded in death by her father Ray E. Die.

A funeral is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2015 at 1:00pm at the Whaley United Methodist Church with Jerry Jones officiating. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Joybell's life. A private burial will take place in the Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home. No visitation is planned.

Memorial contributions may be made to the GISD Foundation, 800 South Morris St., Gainesville, TX. 76240