Joy Lee Mills, 64, Harrisonville, MO, died Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at her home.  Funeral services were held  Monday, December 17, 2018 at the United Methodist Church in Harrisonville, with burial in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville.   Memorial contributions may be made to Harrisonville Public School Foundation.

Joy was born February 21, 1954 in Harrisonville, MO, the daughter of Vernon Lee and Barbara Kay (Harvey) Walker.  She was a 1972 graduate of Harrisonville High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Education from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO, where she was involved in the drama department.  Joy married William F. "Bill" Mills on August 5, 1975 in Harrisonville.  She taught special education at Harrisonville High School.  She also owned and operated Learning Tree Day Care Center for 10 years.  Joy also co-owned and operated Gold Crown Hallmark store in Harrisonville, opening in 1991.

Joy was co-owner of The Family Center and was the gift buyer for many years for all of the stores.  She served on the Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation board and was involved with the Harrisonville School PTO for many years.  She was a member of the DAR, and a member of the Bayard Chapter No. 179, Order of Eastern Star, and had been very active with the Rainbow Girls.  She was also a member of the Red Hat Society.  Her favorite place to be was at their lake home on Mantrap Lake in Nevis, Minnesota, where they had spent many summers.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother, Kirk Walker.  She is survived by her husband, Bill, of the home; two sons, Jarrett Keith Mills and his wife, Melissa, Grandview, MO, and their daughter, Audrey, and Justin Blake Mills and his wife, Katherine, Olathe, KS and their two children, Wyatt and Owen; two brothers, Jef Walker and his wife, Raylene, Rolla, MO, and their children, Shayla Black and Logan Walker, and Jay Walker and his wife, Dawn, Farmington, MO; one sister, Jil (Walker) Hesser, Mesa, AZ, and her children, Tara, Karina, and Brandon; other relatives and many friends.