Joy Haley obituary – Capitola, CA (1958-2024)

Joy Haley, a wonderful woman, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, peacefully left this earth plane on March 11 at the age of 65 with her love, Geri, by her side. She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness and joy that touched the lives of all who knew her. Joys is preceded in death by her father Eugene Douglas, her mother Norma Jean and her brother Justin. She will be dearly missed and survived by her wife and best friend Geri, her daughter Jill, her grandchildren Adrian and Ariana and her extended family including her nieces Sheila Hertz, Amanda Haley-Johnston, Kristy Locatelli and nephews Nick Haley and Justin Haley. Her love for life was evident in the way she lived. Even simple things turned into a fun time with family, friends and of course food! To us, she is truly that pebble thrown into a lake while the lives she touched act as ripples that extend far beyond us. She played an active role in her community by teaching, volunteering and supporting her spiritual center. Born on October 19, 1959 in Wichita Kansas, where her father was a rodeo rider and musician, the family moved to Capitola, California where they settled. was the embodiment of her name. Throughout her life, she radiated love, warmth and compassion, and her radiant, playful spirit illuminated the lives of those around her. She had a remarkable ability to connect with people. She approached every challenge with unwavering optimism. She was beautiful, kind, funny, talented, selfless, cool, smart and tough all at the same time. She never met a stranger and was genuinely kind to everyone. Throughout her career as an accountant, she took on a challenge with the curiosity of a forensic accountant, determined to arrive at the ‘balanced’ account. In addition to her work, she was the backbone of the music department of Center For Spiritual Living and as a practitioner she provided many people with prayer, advice and much-needed insights. Joy was able to sing a “knock your socks off” version of Eta James’ song “Finally”. Yes, she has achieved many more things, but the quality of her voice cannot be overstated. She was in her happy place when she sang. Over the years she sang in many different locations; Churches, county fairs, special events, weddings, living rooms of her family and friends, and so on. Joy was a devoted wife to the love of her life, Geri Avila, for fifteen years. Their marriage was built on a foundation of love, respect and mutual support and served as an inspiration to many. Together they navigated life’s joys and sorrows and created countless cherished memories. They had many adventures together along the way. Joy especially loved their spontaneous road trips. As a mother, Joy was a source of boundless love and encouragement to her daughter Jill. She was very proud of Jill’s achievements. They had the gift of working together and spending time together as a family. Joy’s nurturing spirit created an environment of love and acceptance within her family. Throughout her life, Joy touched the lives of countless people with her generosity and kindness. Her special smile and compassionate nature left an indelible impression on all who had the privilege of knowing her. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who had the pleasure of crossing her path. In addition to her wife, children and grandchildren, Joy is survived by extended family members and a host of friends who will continue to honor her memory through acts of love and kindness. A celebration of Joy’s life will be held at the Center for Spiritual Living on June 29 at 1 p.m. The address is 1818 Felt St., Santa Cruz, CA 95062. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Center for Spiritual Living (by mail or online at https://cslsantacruz.org), in reflection Joy’s passion for helping others. Joy’s light has not been extinguished on earth, and her spirit will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of those she loved. May she be forever surrounded by the love and joy she brought into the world.