Renee L. Joy | Obituaries

Renee L. Joy

April 21, 1954 – February 23, 2024

Funeral services for Renee Joy, 69, a resident of Buffalo and Mesa, Arizona, who died tragically in a horse riding accident in Arizona, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11 at Summit Wesleyan Church in Buffalo, with Father Todd Young officiating. as celebrant. There will also be a CommUnion service at 9 a.m. May 11, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Buffalo. Following the funeral at Summit Wesleyan, there will be a reception at Onderdonk Hall at St. Luke. A memorial ride will be organized by Renée’s equestrian friends in Arizona at a time to be announced. Private family burial will take place in Willow Grove Cemetery at a later date. Donations in memory of Renée mcan be prepared in the pantry of the bread of life. Online condolences may be made at Harnessfuneralhome.com.

Renee Louise Joy was born April 21, 1954, in Casper to Homer and Virginia Lathrop. She grew up and went to school in Casper and graduated from Kelly Walsh High School with the class of 1972. After high school, Renee attended the University of Wyoming where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. farms and ranches in 1977. After graduating. , Renee accepted a job with the University of Wyoming Extension Service in Pinedale. It was there that she met the love of her life, Bill Joy. Bill and Renee were married October 14, 1978 in Casper at the Lathrop Family Ranch and made their home in Pinedale. At that time, Bill worked for the Soil Conservation Service. In May 1979, they moved to Torrington where Bill became a Farm Bureau insurance agent. Renee was a stay-at-home mom with her newborn Drew. In the fall of 1980, they moved to Buffalo where Bill continued as a Farm Bureau agent and Renee was expecting her second child, Terri. On July 5, 1982, Renee and Bill launched Joy Appliance and Video Center and Adventureland Video. They partnered for 22 years in this successful business and sold the business in December 2003. Renee had become very proficient in kitchen design and continued to do so for the new owners of Joy Appliance until it closed in 2013 after a fire. She then started her own cabinetry business called Joy Cabinetry and Design and continued designing kitchens and selling cabinets until selling the business in 2021.

Renee was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and formerly served as Senior Vestry Warden. She also served in the Altar Guild and helped sell Surprise You for many years. She loved being with family, especially with her grandchildren. She loved playing bridge with the monthly bridge group and loved going to the mountains for any reason, especially camping. She had a passion for reading, but her main passion was horse riding. She never tired of seeing God’s creation aboard her faithful steed Léon. It’s hard to imagine how many miles she traveled on horseback.

Renee is survived by her husband Bill Joy of Buffalo and Mesa, Arizona. One son Andrew Joy of Casper; two daughters, Terri Marso and her husband Mike of Douglas and Christine Joy and her significant other Nick of Scottsdale, Arizona; three brothers, Gary Lathrop and his wife Peri Kay of Casper, Kent Lathrop and his wife Valerie also of Casper, and Steve Lathrop and his wife Barbara of North Carolina; and four grandchildren Kellan Marso, Houston Marso, Olivia Joy Helton and Alexis Joy Helton. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Homer (Doc) Lathrop.