Joy Ann Mcilhenny

Joy Ann McIlhenny, 83, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, died July 26, 2015 at Davis Hospice Center of Cheyenne. She was born in Anderson, South Carolina to Grady and Opal Foster. She received her schooling in SC, graduating as an honors student Class of 1948 from Anderson Girls High School. She attended Anderson College and Winthrop College (now University) before joining the U.S. Air Force, serving during the Korean Conflict.

Joy was married to Stafford Herbert (deceased) in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. They had five children and later divorced. Joy married Kenneth McIlhenny in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 1970. He preceded her in death in 1995. Joy worked for various federal government agencies before teaching school in rural Nebraska. She moved to Cheyenne in 1965 and began working for the Veterans Administration Medical Center. She worked up to Secretary to the Director and retired in 1985 as a Veterans Benefits Counselor. She was a member of, and enjoyed dear friends in, the VA Ladies Social Group. Her hobbies included reading, movies, shopping, her pets and visiting with her grandchildren.

Survivors include a son, Donald Herbert (Cheyenne); two daughters, Alison Martin (Michigan) and Janice Louder (Idaho); two step-daughters, Ann Bradley (Idaho) and Barbara Faye Sharkey (Colorado); sister, Sylvia Parsons (South Carolina); numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; a niece and several dear cousins in SC and California.

She was preceded in death by husband, Ken; her parents; two daughters, Cynthia Litvin (Texas) and Heidi Herbert (Cheyenne); step-son Kenny McIlhenny (Cheyenne); step-granddaughter, Kelli Melli (Idaho); and nieces DeeDee Terry (Illinois) and Deborah Hodge (SC).

Her children thank the caring doctors and staff at Lifecare Center of Cheyenne and the extraordinary staff at Davis Hospice. Cremation will take place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens under the direction of Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel.
In discussing her obituary, Joy wanted to remember special loved ones residing in Cheyenne: Bill and Dee Peterson, Ken and Sherrill Peterson, and Sarah Greenwade. She expressed thanks to the Strubar Family for their support during her illness. She wished “God’s blessings to all until we meet again…”