Joye Salazar

On November 5, 2024, Joye Melissa Salazar, made her final and most adventurous journey from her residence in Fairborn, Ohio.

Born on November 11, 1932, in Buffalo Valley, Oklahoma, Joye was a loyal friend, an adventurous soul, and a beacon of love and warmth to all those fortunate enough to know her. In the words of Maya Angelou, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the impactful life Joye led.

Throughout her 91 years, Joye never let life's trials dampen her spirited personality. She loved traveling to visit family and friends all around the United States. The tales of her travels across the country by bus and train were always captivating. But of all the places she had been, nothing mattered more to her than her family.

Her love for her family was unbounded by space or time; for Joye, the term "extended" did not exist. She loved all her family as if they were under her own roof. Her love was as vast as the oceans and as steadfast as the mountains, a testament to her loving nature.

Joye is survived by her children: Brenda Schultz (Jerry), Joyce Kahl, Melissa Kahl, Bob Kahl (Cassie) David Fiffer (Jan), Carrie Olatunji, and Greg Blackwell; her grandchildren: Tracy DeFoor (Erik), Crystal Potter (Josh), Rachel Hawvermale (Mark), Amanda Payne, Sammy Payne, Clifford Payne, Cloressa Payne, Timothy Payne, LLoyd Davis Jr. (Rebekah), Llovely Davis, Cisco Salazar (Sam), Mercedes Wattenberg, Ciara Schultz, Christina Jarvis (Paul), Conner Schultz, Brian Kahl, Lucas Villeda , Chelsea Villeda, Alexandra Villeda, Wale Olatunji, and Sergio Salazar. Joye is also survived by many great-grandchildren and some great-great-grandchildren, whose lives she enriched with her love and effervescent spirit.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Jesse Lewis and Maddie Rose and her three sisters.
Joye's loving, loyal, and spirited nature will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know and meet her.

We invite you to celebrate Joye's life by sharing your memories and photos on her memorial page. Her life was full of adventure, and every shared memory will serve as a testament to her loving spirit.