Joy (Hawkins) Keys
October 4, 1929 — June 4, 2015
TUSCOLA: Joy Keys, 85, passed away Thursday, June 4, 2015 at a medical facility in Abilene. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, June 8, 2015 at the Potosi Cemetery with Ryan Goodwin of Tuscola United Methodist Church officiating, directed by Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. The family will receive friends after the service at The Homeplace in Tuscola.
Joy was born on October 4, 1929 to Willis and Kate (Deel) Hawkins in Holdenville, Oklahoma. She married Claude William (Bill) Keys I, and they settled in the Dallas area, working in the broadcast industry.
Joy was a pioneer in the syndicated broadcast of television shows that have become staples in American households. She was the executive secretary for MCA-TV, which was among the first to sell syndication rights to stations for broadcast. Joy kept the office and the daily operation of MCA-TV in working order.
Joy enjoyed league bowling in Dallas. Bill was an avid golfer. After retirement, Joy discovered and fell in love with the game of golf. She and Bill could be found on the golf course regularly. She enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys and the San Antonio Spurs.
Joy and Bill moved to Tuscola in 2003. She was a great breakfast cook and loved sharing her home with family and a host of friends.
Joy is survived by two sons, Gary Jackson, of Abilene, and Jeff Jackson; one step-son, Bill Keys II, and wife Lynne of Tuscola; step-daughters, June Keys of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and JoAnn Dowdell, and husband Pat of Fair Oaks Ranch; one brother-in-law, Tom Keys, and wife Gail of Carrollton; two sisters-in-law, Marge Keys of Lubbock, and Rosemary Whitt of Clovis, New Mexico. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her extended family includes: Lynn “Steve” Emmons of Dallas, Kathy Jackson of Santa Fe, New Mexico, John and Marsha Dew of The Villages, FL, and Iona Smith of Abilene and other dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, husband, Bill Keys I, two brother-in-laws, George Keys and Bob Keys.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tuscola United Methodist Church, PO Box 205, Tuscola, Texas 79562.