Joy Lynne Milton passed away at the age of 81 on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at Medical City Denton of Denton, TX. She was born on June 6, 1945, in Nashville, Tennessee to James T. Ellis, III and Edna Anderson Ellis.

Joy moved from Nashville to North Texas where she attended college and enjoyed drag racing her green Dodge Charger on the weekends alongside her husband on his modified Harley Davidson. She lived a full life where she excelled at every job from bank collections, repossessions, real estate, school bus driver, and refunds request at Southwest Airlines where she retired. This is when her real calling came in…full-time Grandma.

Joy was a Christian woman who gave of herself for her family, friends, and strangers alike. She really did not know any strangers and would talk with anyone, ask to hold a stranger’s baby, and felt no shame to get to know the personal lives of the employees she knew by name at her local Kroger’s. She was known for her labor of love for others, especially when it came to her mouth-watering chicken-fried steak. Her home was opened to several college students while they attended TWU or UNT.

Joy was preceded in death by a son Kelly Jay Milton, husband Donald J Milton, parents James T. Ellis, III and Edna Anderson, sister Julie Ellis, and brother Lonnie Wheeler. She is survived by son Christopher Glenn Milton and wife Torri, son William Tracy Milton and wife Andrea and the loves of her life Granddaughters Madison Grace, Abigail Catherine, Tia Marie, Ava Lynne, and Zoe Ray. She is also survived by her brother Jamie Wheeler.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2222 Welborn St, Dallas, TX 75219.

Visitation will be Thursday, 8/6/26, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at DeBerry Funeral Home, 2025 West University, Denton, TX 76201. There will be a graveside service Friday 8/7/26 at 10:00am at Roselawn Memorial Park, 3801 Roselawn Dr, Denton, TX 76207.