Joy Barclay
Joy Barclay Obituary
Joy Ellen Barclay ne Toombs passed away at her home in Halifax, Massachusetts on Thursday, June 27th, 2019, after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts on June 24th, 1958, the beloved daughter of Virginia Anne (Bryan) and Robert Edward Toombs, Sr.; and step-daughter of William Curtis Cormier, all of whom predeceased her. Joy came from a large, close-knit family, and was raised in Dorchester, Randolph, and Rockland, Massachusetts. She was the mother of five children, whom she referred to as her M M Gang. Motherhood was her main purpose in life. She was extremely proud and protective of her children and loved them with all of her heart. Becoming a grandmother would later become a defining moment in her life. She adored her grandbabies and loved them as high as the sky and as deep as the sea.
Joy was a tomboy, hippie, music lover, animal lover, and huge fan of all Boston sports, particularly the Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox. She found JOY in all things. She had a heart of pure gold, relentlessly putting others before herself, taking her children to volunteer at a young age and instilling in them her selfless values from day one. Joy would do anything for anyone, and even during her darkest hour, when she was at her sickest, she worried about everyone but herself, especially others suffering from cancer. She fought cancer with strength, bravery, resilience, and grace, inspiring everyone around her. Joy never ever gave up hope and never stopped fighting. She had deep faith and never once questioned Gods plan for her, which ultimately was larger than her life here on Earth. Joy was a kid at heart, enjoying the small things in life, especially holidays, making it easy for everyone to love her.
Joy is survived by her husband of thirty-eight years, the love of her life and shining star, Ralph Leslie Barclay, Jr., of Halifax, Massachusetts; her five children, who along with her grandchildren were the lights of her life, Melanie Lynne Bryan, of Pittsfield, Maine; Melissa Sue David and her husband, Daniel E. David, of Hanson, Massachusetts; Michelle Leslie Barclay and her husband, Adrian M. Barclay, of Halifax, Massachusetts; Melinda Eleanor Horton and her husband Phillip Thomas Horton, of Farmington, Utah; and Mark Joseph Barclay and his partner, Ashley N. Kinan, of Plymouth, Massachusetts; her cherished grandchildren, Dominic LaMarre; Alexis LaMarre; Owen David; Sean Stone; Grace LaMarre; DJ David; Victoria Barclay; Lillian Barclay; Joshua David and his daughter, Peyton; her eight adoring siblings and their spouses, Judith and Steven Closs; Jacquie and David Gardikis; Ralph and Shirley Toombs; Jill and Robert Hart; Robert Bobby Edward, Jr. and Sharon Toombs; Jenny and Thomas McCarthy; Rick Toombs; and Jodie Bryan; her uncle Henry Bryan and his wife, Anna Marie Bryan; and uncle Arthur Herweck; her dearest Leslie Barclay was a very important part of her life whom she held close to her heart; the Childs and Tingley families, with whom she shared a special relationship and unique bond; her close lifelong friends, the Buckleys; her good friends the Frederics; and her many nephews, nieces, brothers and sisters in-law, cousins and friends, all of whom she loved dearly.
Joy was predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Ralph Burgess Bryan and Margeurite Florence Ethel (Lebel) DeGrange; her paternal grandparents, George Washington Toombs and Gertrude M. (Hoar) Herweck; her treasured aunts and uncles, Eleanor Aunty Bryan; Phyllis and Irel Caton; Carl Bryan; Isabel Lebel; Donald and Arnold Herweck, and Dorothy (Herweck) Siroonian; her best friend, Doreen Childs; and her mother-in-law, Mabel LaFlower, of whom she was deeply fond.
The memorial service will be held at Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church, 4321 North Main Street in Fall River, Massachusetts, at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019. Luncheon to follow in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome.
31 First St.
Taunton, MA 02780
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