Joy Gearhiser
Joy Edwards Gearhiser, of Chattanooga, died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her family, on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, after a valiant battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Joy was born in Huntsville, Ala., in 1942, shortly before her parents moved to Oak Ridge, where Joy was raised and educated. A lifelong Democrat, Joy was the first female president of the Chattanooga Young Democrats Club. She was also a former president of the Chattanooga Bar Auxiliary as well as a member of the League of Women Voters.
Joy was instrumental in the furnishing and decoration of the building that was constructed to house the firm in which her husband was a founding partner, Gearhiser, Peters, Lockaby, Cavett and Elliott PLLC. She was a member of First Centenary United Methodist Church.
Joy celebrated her 67th birthday in April of this year with a party given in her honor at her home on Missionary Ridge by her family that was attended by dozens of her friends. Joy will always be remembered as a beautiful and elegant woman.
Those who knew Joy best will remember her as a kind and generous soul to animals, particularly dogs. For decades, Joy raised numerous homeless dogs, giving them a loving, safe and comfortable home. Joy was an avid gardener and a strong believer in protecting the environment.
One of her greatest pleasures was taking trips to Yellowstone National Park where she would photograph animals and go snowmobiling.
Joy was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Mary Edwards, of Oak Ridge; and her sister, Beverly Edwards Steinlien, of Oak Ridge.
Joy is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Charles Josef Gearhiser as well as her devoted children, Charles Josef Gearhiser III, Signal Mountain, Laura Gearhiser, Knoxville and Christy Lee Gearhiser, Linden, Tn.; grandchildren, Alexandra Josephine, Cooper Josef and Lochlain, all of Knoxville, Benjamin Wyatt Gearhiser, Signal Mountain; brother, Frederick Edwards, San Francisco, Ca.
Services will be held on Monday, Sept. 21, at noon in the funeral home chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Hospice of Chattanooga.
Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort to the family.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, Sept. 20, from 4-8 p.m., and Monday from 10 a.m. until noon at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.