Joy L. Fenton White

Joy L. Fenton White, of Groesbeck, passed away at Mexia LTC on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at age 91.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at King Cemetery, Thornton, with Brother Richard Williams of the Church of Christ of Groesbeck officiating.

Joy was born August 18, 1932, to Carroll Herbert “CH” Fenton and Arlis (Forman) Fenton at Thornton, where she grew up and graduated from Thornton High School.

Joy raised three sons, Brady, Wesley and Tracy, on the family farm and ranch, and often fed additional boys visiting with them. She must have been rather hard on them, as her dad told her she needed to “slack-up.” She took them camping and fishing, and one memorable time was when she had the boys on a trailer she was pulling behind the tractor, and the trailer came loose and passed on beside the tractor, but no injuries to anyone. 

She still found time to work at Varo, at the Mexia State School, and for the Extension Service - Family Planning. She worked at the Auction barn in Groesbeck writing tickets for ten years. She served many families through the government’s food distribution program, with the two deCordova boys helping her pass out food in Groesbeck and Mexia. Joy made many trips to town on FM 937, before moving into town.

She was a good cook and loved preparing turkey and dressing for the family at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and also made great chocolate and coconut pies. She always prepared something special for meals at the church. Joy chose to have her clothes personally made by seamstresses, Mrs. Herring and later by Zelda, and she always looked “classy.” She enjoyed reading, gardening in her large yard, and during a period of her life, she and Mary Coleman enjoyed attending bible classes in Waco. Joy loved her cats, all of whom were named “cat.”

Joy was a member of the Church of Christ at Groesbeck and had taught Sunday school classes in past years. After breaking her hip in a fall, she moved to Mexia LTC, where she has lived during the past seven years.  

Joy was preceded in death by her parents, Carroll “CH” and Arlis Fenton; her brother, Carroll, Jr. Fenton who died when he was very young; and her brother, Starley Carroll “Pete” Fenton in 2008. 

She is survived by her three sons and daughters-in-law: Brady and Sandy White of Sardis, MS; Wesley and Ruth White of Groesbeck; and Trace and Hui Hui White of Dalian, China. Her grandchildren include Brandi White and husband Mark of Groesbeck and Wesley White and wife Angie of Burleson and step grandchildren, Collins Bryant and wife Bethany and their children, of Oxford, MS, Chadd Bryant of Nashville, TN, and Hui Sa of Dalian, China. The great grandchildren are Skylar Brown of Groesbeck, Kennedy Brown of Fort Worth, Caleb White of Burleson, and Logan White of Utah; and a great-great grandson, Little Wes of Utah.  Also, she has nephews, Robert Earl Fenton and John David Fenton and their families. 

Joy’s family extend a very special thanks to Martha Saling and the staff at Mexia LTC Nursing Home for their care provided over the past seven years.