Joya L. Howell

Joya Lee Howell was born to John Manning Howell and Kathryn Jean Howell nee Pennington on October 21, 1943 in Monclo, West Virginia. She passed away December 2, 2017, joining her parents, younger brother, James Michael Howell, and beloved older sister, Judy Ellen Sanders and leaving behind one brother, Jerry Ronald Howell of Dayton, Nevada and one sister, Karen “Kathy” Beth Howell of High Point, North Carolina. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews, including James Michael Howell II, Jason Stuart Kirkland, Kathryn E. Moon, Meghan Beth Kirkland, Lisa Sue Abbott, and Michelle “Shelly” Katherine Adkins. After earning her credentials, she worked in hospital billing and retired in 2004 from social work. She was a creative force, sewing and building dolls and accessories and passing on this love of arts and crafts to her sister, Kathy. She was an avid collector of Blue Willow, nutcrackers, porcelain shoes, and peacocks. She never met a collection she didn’t like. She was a talented artist and enjoyed gardening and hiking when health permitted. She survived two bouts of cancer, including cancer of the lung, a broken back, and a broken hip. She was a fighter. She died unexpectedly, but she died in West Virginia, her home, as she would’ve wanted
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, Handley Funeral Home, Danville, WV. Visitation will be one hour prior.