Joy Louise Padgett

Joy Psalmonds Padgett, 88, was lovingly received in heaven on the morning of Wednesday, March 27th. She was born December 2, 1935, to the late Andrew and Anna (Cadle) Psalmonds in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Joy graduated from Comstock High School and then attended and graduated from the American Beauty Academy. She married her best friend, Charles Padgett, on April 4, 1953, and together they built a life filled with love for 70 years. Joy enjoyed being a beauty technician in her early career, stayed home to raise their children, and then reentered the workforce by driving school buses for Comstock Public Schools for over 30 years. She spent her days caring for and supporting her friends and family by cheering on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at their sports and school activities, enjoying vacations with friends and family at Gun Lake during the summer months, traveling with dear friends, bowling in a league, and on any given morning you could find her chatting with her friends at Dotty’s/Nico’s. She shared many fond stories about the people she met and the lives that touched hers, which she shared often. 

Surviving Joy are her children; Chet (Sue Schoder) Padgett, Larry (Deann) Padgett, Laurie (William) Babbitt; grandchildren, Bret (Jennifer) Padgett, Jamie (Clive) Preece, Kacie (Jacob) Root, Andrew (Becca Shemburger) Kampen; great-grandchildren, Sydney, Jack and Parker Padgett, Jalen Kampen, Kayden and Linkin Root, James and Luke Preece; siblings, Donald (Myra) Psalmonds, Gay (Ray) Hallam, Debra Thomas; and brother-in-law, Carl Betz; and special family members include Mark Kampen and Louann Boyd and many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. Joy was preceded in death by her loving husband, Charles Padgett, her parents, Andrew and Anna (Cadle) Psalmonds; siblings, Buel Psalmonds, Joanne (Psalmonds) Betz, June (Psalmonds) Hayward, and her daughter-in-law, Kathleen (Born) Padgett.

In honor of Joy’s blessed life, visitation will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, April 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial and Cremation Services, 622 South Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007. The funeral service will be held Saturday at noon following the visitation at the same location with a graveside service immediately following the funeral service at Maple Grove Cemetery, Comstock, Michigan. Friends and family are invited to gather at the conclusion of gravesite service at the Comstock Fire Station 9-1 for a small luncheon to celebrate Joy’s life.