Renee Joy

Funeral services for Renee Joy, 69-year-old Buffalo, Wyoming and Mesa Arizona resident who died tragically in a horse accident in Arizona, will be held Saturday, May 11th at 11 a.m. at Summit Wesleyan Church in Buffalo with Father Todd Young officiating. There will also be a Communion Service at 9:00 a.m. on the 11th of May, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Buffalo. Following the funeral at Summit Wesleyan, there will be a reception at the Onderdonk Hall at St. Luke’s. A memorial ride will be taken by Renee’s riding friends in Arizona at a time to be announced. A private family interment will be in Willow Grove Cemetery at a later date. Donations in Renee’s memory may be made to The Bread of Life Food Pantry. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com.

Renee Louise Joy was born on April 21st, 1954, in Casper, Wyoming 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 received a Bachelor of Science in Farm and Ranch Management in 1977. After completing her degree Renee took a job with the University of Wyoming Extension Service in Pinedale, Wyoming. It was there that she met the love of her life, Bill Joy. Bill and Renee were married on October 14th, 1978, in Casper, Wyoming at the Lathrop Family Ranch, and made their home in Pinedale. At that time, Bill worked for the Soil Conservation Service. In May of 1979, they moved to Torrington, Wyoming where Bill became a Farm Bureau Insurance Agent. Renee was a stay-at-home mom with newborn Drew. In the fall of 1980, they moved to Buffalo where Bill continued as a Farm Bureau Agent and Renee was expecting child #2, Terri. On July 5th, 1982, Renee and Bill started Joy Appliance and Video Center and Adventureland Video. They partnered for 22 years in this successful venture, selling the business in December of 2003. Renee had become very proficient in kitchen design and continued to do that for the new owners of Joy Appliance until it closed in 2013 after a fire. She then started her own cabinet business called Joy Cabinetry and Design and continued designing kitchens and selling cabinetry until selling the business in 2021.

Renee was a member of St Luke’s Episcopal Church and at one time was Senior Warden on the Vestry. She also served on the altar guild and helped with the Surprise You Sale for many years. She loved being with family, especially her grandkids. 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 horseback riding. She never tired of seeing God’s creation aboard her trusty steed Leon. It’s difficult to imagine the number of miles she went 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, Wyoming 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 & Alexis Joy Helton; She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Homer (Doc) Lathrop.