Joy Erwin Gaither
Marriages
Merlaine Gower - June 2, 1956
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - September 29, 2013
Joy E. Gaither
May 20, 1931 – September 18, 2013
Joy Erwin Gaither, 82, peacefully
passed away at his lifelong
residence in Palisade on September
18th, 2013.
Joy was born in Arcadia, Nebraska
on May 20th, 1931, to Roy
Oliver Gaither, Methodist Minister
and Ruby Whelan-Gaither,
school teacher. The family moved
to Colorado in the early 40's and
after a few years found their place in Palisade.
Joy graduated in 1947 from Central High School and joined the
Navy. After serving his time in Guam as a dental technician he returned
home to attend CMU in its early years as a junior colleg e.
While there, he enjoyed singing in a quartet with his brother, Robert,
and friends, Jack Weaver and Jim Walton. Shortly after school, he
found his bride, Merlaine Gower. They dated for a short time an d
were married on June 2, 1956. Family plans quickly ensued.
As he grew older he enjoyed collecting coins, star gazing, as sembling
puzzles, and riding the tractor through his peach orchard .
However, his most enjoyed activity was spending time behind the
cover of a book with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. To support his
interests and his family, Joy did many things but mostly he spent his
working years running his own carpet laying business and ultimately
retiring from the school district as a custodian.
Joy is preceded in death by both parents and all siblings; Je nnet
McCracken of CA; Ramona Wing of Grand Junction, CO, and Robert
Gaither of NM. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Merlaine;
three sons, Roy Merrill Gaither of Palisade, CO; Renny Robert
Gaither of Hamilton, OH, and Billy Gaither of Grand Junction, CO,
and daughter, Ruth Rachelle Brandstoettner of Clifton, CO. He also
leaves behind seven grandchildren.
Joy touched many lives and treasured his church, family, frie nds,
and community. He will surely be missed by all. Anyone wanting to
bless the family is graciously asked to make any contributions to
Crossroads United Methodist Church instead.
A memorial will be held to celebrate Joy’s life at Crossroads
United Methodist Church on Monday, September 30th, 2013, at
11:00 a.m.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B Death Notice - September 20, 2013
Joy Gaither, 82, Palisade, died Sept. 18, 2013, at his home.
Services are pending with Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.
Mr. Gaither was a carpet and flooring installer.
He is survived by his wife, Merlaine; three sons, Roy of Palisade,
Billy of Grand Junction and Renny of Hamilton, Ohio; one daughter,
Ruth Brandstoner of Clifton; six grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild.
