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Tanya (Tammy) Orlea Joy, of Cody, lost her courageous fight with pneumonia on Aug. 20, 2024, Billings, Montana.
She was born on Feb. 16, 1963, in Pineville, Louisiana. Tammy lived in Beaumont, Texas, with her mom Elsie and her four brothers, Melvin Bell, David Bell, Maurice Jr. Bell and Sammy Bell. They all moved to Jena, Louisiana, when she was 12 years old. She married Donald Joy on March 12, 1977. From this union they had four boys, Chris, Justin, Jonathan and Ethan.
The family moved from Louisiana to Wyoming in 1988. They lived in Clark, Wyoming, in a one room cabin with a dirt floor. They lived in the cabin until they found a rattlesnake in the house. They moved to Belfry and Frannie for a few years. The family settled in Powell, Wyoming, where Tammy was accepted into the nursing program at NWC in 1993. She only had a sixth-grade education. She was very knowledgeable and could remember and retain information amazingly.
Tammy moved to different locations in the Big Horn Basin and she settled in Lovell, Wyoming.
Tammy loved to spend time with her boys and their families. Tammy loved telling stories of her time in Louisiana and growing up. We will definitely miss her stories and her contagious laugh.
Tammy is survived by her four sons Chris (Mandy) Joy, Justin (Mariah) Joy, Jonathan Joy, Ethan (Emily) Joy, and grandkids.
She was preceded in death by her mom Elsie Green Bell and dad Maurice Bell.
Graveside services were held at the Lovell Cemetery on Aug. 22, 2024. Memories and condolences can be shared on Tammy’s memorial page at BallardFH.com.
