Obituary of Joyce Hunt

Joyce J. Drake Hunt HUNT, JOYCE J. DRAKE Joyce J. Drake Hunt, of Ocala went home to the Lord on November 13, 2008, after a long battle with cancer. Our family grieves the great loss of such a loving and caring sister, mother, grandmother and friend of so many years. Joyce was born March 16, 1916 in Owensboro, Kentucky to Felix and Jamie Drake, the sixth of their seven children. She grew up in Owensboro and Mt Sterling and graduated from Bethel College, Hopkinsville. She was married in 1943 to Lt. Irving Wesley Hunt of Farmington, New Hampshire, who was killed in battle in World War 11. Moving to Ocala in 1948, Joyce was a 30-year employee of the Marion County School Board as manager of the cafeteria at Ocala, later Forest, High School for the majority of that time. Joyce was a long and faithful member of First Baptist Church of Ocala, serving as a Sunday school teacher, member of the choir and of the Joy Chow Circle. After the fire that destroyed the church buildings in 1991, she became a founding member of the Downtown Baptist Church, now Woodside Baptist, where she was active in the music, missionary and fellowship ministries. In addition to her great love of family and church, she was committed to historic preservation and was active in several community groups, including HOPS, the Micanopy Preservation Association and Questers. She was a life member of the Ocala Community Concert Association, a program she loved and supported for many years. Joyce was known for generously sharing her culinary gifts, and family and friends fondly remember her famous sour cream pound cakes and calamondin cakes and preserves. She is survived by her sister, Martha Huston; daughter Wesley Ann Hunt (Rod Jones); grandchildren Michael B. McCachren, David J. McCachren, James R. McCachren, III, and Sarah Katherine Hunt Jones; nieces Dixie Lee Elliot, Carol Hanja (Yuri), Judy McKinney (Louis) and Gail Kiriacon; nephew George Kiriacon; four great-nieces and nephews; and three sisters-in-law and families who still live in New England. She was lovingly cared for by Dottie C Bert and Angelia Richardson during her illness. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 23 at 3:00 p.m. at Woodside Baptist Church, 2450 N.W. 28th Street, Ocala, Florida 34470. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the ministries of Woodside Baptist Church, especially the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, or the Florida Baptist Children's Homes, 1015 Sikes Boulevard, Lakeland, Florida 33815. Arrangements by: HIERS-BAXLEY FUNERAL SERVICES, 910 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala.