Joy Die

Funeral services for Joy B. Die, 92, of Lake Kiowa, are scheduled for Thursday, September 27, 2018.  The funeral service at Whaley United Methodist Church, with Rev. Jerry Jones officiating, will begin at 10:00 AM.  The committal service at Fairview Cemetery will begin at 1:00 PM.  The family will receive friends following the funeral at Whaley UMC.  Services are under the care of Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home.

Ms. Die passed away September 21, 2018 in Gainesville.

Joy was born April 9th, 1926 in Nacogdoches, Texas.  Her primary school had no kindergarten, so she began first grade at 5 years old.  An extremely bright child, she advanced quickly and graduated from high school at 16 years old.  She was an only child and chose to remain close to home as she attended college at Stephen F. Austin University.  Her quest for knowledge and achievement was proven when she, a female in the early 1940s, earned two master’s degrees simultaneously.  Even more extraordinary were her chosen disciplines: math and art.  It was at college where she met her soulmate Ray E. Die, and they were married May 8, 1942 before he deployed with the Marines to fight in World War II.  After he returned, they welcomed their only child, Joybell, on March 5, 1945.  Joy began teaching school in East Texas before moving to Gainesville in (approximately) 1956 where she accepted a teaching position with Gainesville ISD.  She was a respected and admired educator until her retirement in 1981, and she was inducted into the GHS Education Hall of Fame in 2009.  In retirement, she was an avid golfer and loved spending time and supporting her family.  Joy and Ray enjoyed life together until his passing in 1996 (married 53 years).  She was an active member of Whaley United Methodist Church and the Lake Kiowa Chapel Choir.

Survivors include son-in-law Tom Schalk of Gainesville; grandson Trey Schalk and wife Amy of Gainesville; granddaughter Joyann Cooke and husband Brad of Highland Village; and great-grandchildren Addelyn and Mackson Cooke.

Preceding Ms. Die in passing were her parents; husband Ray Die; and daughter Joybell Schalk.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gainesville ISD Education Foundation.