Mrs. Joy Fay (Childers) Masengale of Monticello, departed to her Heavenly home on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at her residence, having attained the age of 83 years, 11 months & 29 days. She was born on Thursday, November 5, 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio the daughter of Charles & Leva (Spradlin) Childers. She married her High School sweetheart, Gary Masengale on Saturday, September 17, 1960 and they recently celebrated 66 happy years together, to this union one child was born. Joy graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University. She had a gift for teaching and taught all subjects in the public school system for almost 30 years. Her students adored her and often said she was their favorite teacher. She not only was an academic teacher, but a Bible scholar in her own right and taught the Word in churches all over Wayne County. She studied the Word endlessly to draw closer to the Lord and teach others how to have a deeper relationship with Jesus. Her Christian example will live on in people’s lives that she taught through the years. Joy was the definition of “JOY.” She was given the perfect name at birth. She brought laughter and light to every room she inhabited. She was the funniest person in the room and the most caring. She was a dedicated wife and mother to her family. She made everyone around her feel safe and cared for in all situations. In more recent years her greatest joy was being a grandmother to her two grandchildren and showering them with the love and concern that only comes from a grandmother’s heart. She adored her grandchildren and the feeling was mutual. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege to be loved by her. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Perry Robert Childers and Ralph Childers.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Masengale; one daughter, Lydia Masengale Pyles (Gary), and two grandchildren Madeline Cortes and Zachary Pyles all of Monticello; one sister, Beulah Crawford of Kokomo, Indiana; along with nieces, nephews, family and friends who mourn her passing.
The funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. e.s.t. in the Memory Chapel of New’s Monticello Funeral Home, with Bro. David Flagler officiating. Burial will be in the Gap Creek Cemetery in Wayne County, Kentucky. The family will receive friends after 5:00 p.m. e.s.t. Friday, November 6, at the funeral home, and again after 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning until the funeral hour.
New’s Monticello Funeral Home is honored to be in charge of all arrangements.