The Shemwell Family

"Joy Marylin Conner Russell passed away in her sleep on November 28. Joy was born to LeRoy Earl Conner & Lena Ethal Canaday Conner on May 20, 1937 in Worland, Wyoming. Though her home was south of Ten Sleep, Worland was the nearest hospital to her ranch home in the Nowood community, south of Ten Sleep, Wyoming. Joy spent her first years living on the ranch with her older brother Roy M Conner and her younger sister Gleora Conner. Following the death of their mother in 1941, Joy and her brother Roy stayed on the ranch with their father while their younger sister Gleora went to live with their maternal grandparents in Moore Springs, Wyoming. Trying to juggle ranching, schooling and the difficulties of being a single parent caring for a little girl, her father sent Joy to live with sister and grandparents at a later date. Joy completed her schooling by graduating with her brother from Mount Ellis Academy a Seventh-day Adventist High School in Bozeman, Montana in 1955. Joy married Ronald K Russell June 3, 1956 in the Big Trails Seventh-day Adventist Church. He survives. To this union was born three children. Joy served several groups as an accountant during her employment years. She was a skilled seamstress (one lady would bring shoes, gloves or a hat, and out of these accessories would grow a new outfit). She was a talented needlepoint artist and an accomplished cook. However, care and love for family and friends was her major focus. One Sabbath as she was preparing to attend church with her family, she heard that the neighbor's were ill and their two children needed fed, the house cleaned, and care given. She did not take time to change her cloths but hurried over to take care of their needs." Preceding Joy in death are her grandparents, parents, brother Roy, and son-in-law Scott Busby.