Joy Elizabeth (Hoopes) Hart

Joy Elizabeth Hudson Hart, “Joybell”, of Okesa, Oklahoma, leapt into the arms of Jesus on the morning of February 17, 2023. She passed peacefully with her husband Merton and family by her side.

Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, February 24th at Kendrick McCartney Johnson Funeral Home in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. There will be a visitation and family time that morning from 10 AM until noon in the chapel. Interment will follow the funeral service at the A.J. Powell Memorial Cemetery in Hominy, OK.

Joy was born in Atlantic Field, Osage County, Oklahoma, on April 9th, 1935 to Quincy and Doshia Hoopes (Clark). The family often moved around the area, as was the usual practice in the oilfields then. She went to school and graduated from Pawhuska public school.

Joy married Zack Hudson Sr and two children resulted from this union, Zack Jr. and Pamela Joy.  Joy loved being Mom to Zack Jr. and Pamela. There are many stories of fun and laughter from their childhood!  Joy also had two stillborn children that skipped earth and went straight to Heaven. Joy often commented how she missed getting to raise and mother the two babies.

Joy worked for and retired from the State of Oklahoma as a monitor for various state programs for 25 years.

Joy married Merton C. Hart in 1995. They traveled all over the country but were especially fond of Branson, Mo. During Joys' later years, when she struggled with memory, dementia and Alzheimer's, she always knew Merton. He could walk into any room and she would light up with a smile and say, “There's my Mertee!”  He was her comfort and anchor.

Even in her last days, Joys shared Jesus with others.  During one of her last hospitalizations, the ER nurse documenting her admission information asked Joy if she had a religious preference and she smiled and said, “Yes, I love Jesus!  Who do you love?”  Her nurse looked up with tears in her eyes and simply said, "Well, I guess that sums it up.” 

Joy's grandson, Jared Ware's Facebook quote summed it up perfectly: “Yesterday heaven gained an Angel. My grandma Joy was married to my Papa for over 27 years. She was such an amazing woman. We loved her dearly and she will be very missed. She was full of so much love for the Lord and all his creation and wanted everyone to know it and know him so we could all be together one day in his embrace.”

Joy was predeceased by both parents and a sister, Charlotte Adams.

Joy is survived by her husband Merton and her two children: son Zack Hudson Jr and daughters Christina Hudson, Carissa Hudson McGee and spouse Tommy.  Daughter Pamela Hudson Cummings and sons Matthew, Daniel and Samuel. Also surviving are Merton's two children: Son Anthony & Holly Hart, their daughter Maggie, & Seth Welliver and children Isaac, Asher and Eden. Daughter Kari & Mike Collier and children Sara Ware / Jared, Amber and Grace Ware / Jon, Jennifer, Jordan and Jackson Collier / Will, Shawna, Gage, Ryker, Asher, and Clara Collier / Heather Lane and Kylea Collier.

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