Joy Yvonne Welker

Joy Y. Welker, 87, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2024, surrounded by family.

Joy was born on November 3, 1936, to Cleo and Opal Collins in Wilburton, Oklahoma. After Joy graduated from Stillwater High School in 1954, she went on to study at Oklahoma State University.

Joy met Les Welker in Stillwater, OK in 1951. They began married life in 1957 in Stillwater when they were both juniors at Oklahoma State University. That year they moved to Mt. Carmel IL, and then to Evansville, IN until 1960. They then returned to Stillwater where Les completed his education and Joy continued to work as an office assistant.

In the Summer of 1961, they moved with their three little boys Brett, Scott and Mark to Littleton, CO where Les began his teaching career and Joy became a stay-at-home Mom. The family continued to grow and four more children, Leslie, Sally, Holly and Lance were born.

In 1973 Joy began taking accounting classes at the local community college and returned to the work force. She worked as an accountant/bookkeeper until her retirement in 1999.

Joy was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a devout Catholic, an avid reader, and an accomplished seamstress.

Joy was predeceased by her mother, father and husband, Les. She is survived by seven children, 15 grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.

Services will be held at Saint Mark Catholic Church (9905 Foothills Canyon Blvd., Littleton, CO 80129) on Friday, February 9, 2024 at 10:00 am. A reception will follow at Wind Crest Senior Living Community (3235 Mill Vista Rd., Highlands Ranch, CO 80129). In lieu of flowers donations should be made to Little Sisters of the Poor at 3629 West 29th Ave., Denver, CO 80211.