Joy Utitz, 79, passed away in Beaumont at Memorial Hermann Baptist Beaumont Hospital on Friday, July 24, 2009. She was born to Christine Lee Howard Barnacastle and Andrew Herring Barnacastle of Beaumont on December 18, 1929, and was a lifelong resident of Beaumont.
Joy graduated from San Marcos Baptist Academy and attended Christian College in Columbia, Missouri. She transferred to the University of Texas and was initiated into Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. Joy was a Melody Maid and princess in the first Neches River festival.
She was a member of the Junior League of Beaumont, serving on numerous committees, and was chairman of the Spindletop Charity Horse Show. Joy was an associate at both Gus Mayer and The White House of Beaumont. Her family and friends were the light of her life and she always made special time for them.
Joy was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Cecil Edmond Vallee III, adored aunt, Bernice Howard Beaird, and her beloved second husband, of twenty-eight years, James Jay Utitz.
She is survived by her son, David Herring Vallee and his wife Donna and their sons, Michael David and Daniel Blake; daughter, Jimmie Jay Utitz Jackson and her husband Bruce and their children, Amy Jay Jackson of Beaumont and Bruce Maxwell Jackson II and his wife Katrina of League City. Joy is also survived by a grandson, James Edmond Vallee and his wife Kris of Houston; brother, Bruce Tevis and his wife Sandy of Artesia, New Mexico; uncle, Hugh Howard of Liberty; and three great granddaughters, Rebekah Parker, Reagan Vallee and Mattie Jackson.
Her funeral service will be 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont with burial to follow at Magnolia Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Michael Vallee, Daniel Vallee, Bruce Jackson, James Vallee, Jake Busceme, and Scott Tevis. A gathering of her family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at Broussard’s.
The family would like to give special thanks to Doctor Jose Lozano and Doctor Suresh Indupalli for the years of special care for Joy. They would also like to thank the staff at the Kidney Center of Beaumont, the Third and Fourth Floor nurses and staff, ICU and dialysis nurses at Memorial Hermann Baptist Beaumont Hospital.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to National Kidney Foundation 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016.
