Joy Walker, 89, formerly of Westport, CT and Roxbury, CT passed away peacefully on June 6, 2012.

Joy was born March 4, 1923 to Phil and Jessie Schuyler. She is survived by her daughter Mary Walker Ference, her son Jon Walker and her sister Betsy Wassell; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren (with at least one more on the way). She was preceded in death by her husband William Walker, her daughter Joan Michele, her brother Phil Schuyler and her sister Phyllis Lindsay.

Joy graduated from Staples High School and Bennington College where she majored in English and minored in Modern Dance. She received her Masters in Education from The University of Bridgeport. She was a much loved English teacher at Staples High School for over 30 years.

Joy's interests included the literary arts, gardening, golf, tennis, fishing, dancing, bird watching, collecting wildflowers and completing New York Times crossword puzzles. She loved playing Charades and was nearly impossible to defeat in Scrabble. She was extremely well read but no snob. Finding the inherent good in others was one of her most enduring talents and she maintained a positive outlook on life to the very end. Above all else she loved her family and perhaps most especially her grandchildren, Dana, Sara, Emma, Megan, Lydia and Ben. She inspired them with her vivid imagination and instilled them with a great joy for life. Joy leaves her survivors with little of material value but with treasures immeasurable.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to the Philip Schuyler Journalism Award c/o Staples Tuition Grants: P.O. Box 5159, Westport, CT, 06881, or online at www.staplestuitiongrants.org.

Cemetery: Cemetery Not Applicable

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Funeral: Roxbury Christ Episcopal

Services: Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Joy's life on Saturday, August 18, 11AM at the Christ Church in Roxbury, CT.

Visitation: There are no calling hours.