Joyce Cheerful Wood 85, of Owensboro, Kentucky passed away Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at the Heartford House in Owensboro. Joyce Cheerful Evans was born January 10, 1939 in Fonde, Kentucky to the late George Washington and Mollie May Dobbs Evans, was married to Fred Morris Wood on February 15, 1962, and was lovingly known as ‘Cheerful’ or ‘Nana’ to both her friends and family. Cheerful was a beacon of joy and the epitome of her cherished name. Her life was a tapestry of love, devotion, and kindness, woven through the years of her inspiring journey.
A dedicated homemaker, Cheerful infused every corner of her home with care and attention. Her hands were rarely still, as she delighted in quilting, a craft through which she expressed her creativity and love. Each stitch was a testament to her patience and skill, and her quilts remain as a warm embrace to those she held dear.
Cheerful was a woman of faith, deeply connected to her church community at Panther Creek Baptist Church. She loved her church family with all her heart, and her involvement in church activities was a source of profound joy and fulfillment. Her presence in the congregation was a gentle reminder of the strength and comfort found in shared belief and fellowship.
Her love for the outdoors was evident in the care she took of her flowers. Cheerful’s garden was a reflection of her inner beauty, blooming with vibrant colors and tended with the same tenderness she showed to all living things.
Above all, Cheerful embraced her role as ‘Nana’ with every ounce of her being. The bond she shared with her grand and great-grandchildren was built on countless moments of laughter, storytelling, and the kind of wisdom that can only be passed down through generations. Her legacy as a matriarch is etched in the traditions and values she instilled in her family.
In addition to her parents, Cheerful was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Fred Morris Wood, who died May 8, 2022.
Cheerful is survived by her daughter, Donna Daniels (Danny Joe) of Island; two granddaughters, Amanda Foster (Josh) and Celena Taylor (Joey); and four great-grandchildren, Evan Taylor, Jove Taylor, Dezmay Taylor, and Allison Foster.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Sunday, December 8, 2024 at Muster Funeral Homes, Livermore Chapel. Burial will be in the Island Community Cemetery in McLean County. Friends may visit with Cheerful’s family from 12:30 P.M. (noon) until 3:00 P.M. Sunday at Musters in Livermore.
The Joyce Cheerful Wood family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Island Community Cemetery Fund; C/O Susan Edmonds; 125 East Broadway; Island, Kentucky 42350.
Cheerful’s services will be streamed live on musterfuneralhomes.com at 3:00 P.M. Sunday.
Share your memories and photos of Cheerful at musterfuneralhomes.com.