Joyce Elaine Ross (Beardsley), 63, of Norwich, Ohio, passed away on October 20, 2026. Born May 20, 1963, Joy lived a life defined by incredible strength, unconditional love, generosity, and an unwavering devotion to her family.

Joy married the love of her life, Harold Ross, on July 1, 1989. Together, they built a life and family filled with love, laughter, memories, and the strength that comes from walking through both life’s greatest joys and its most difficult seasons side by side.

To know Joy was to know a true firecracker. She was strong and stubborn, funny and outspoken, kind and incredibly generous. She was fiercely supportive of the people she loved and always seemed to have a positive outlook, a kind word of encouragement, or exactly the advice someone needed to hear. And when words weren’t enough, there were her hugs—the kind that somehow made everything feel a little better.

Above everything else, Joy treasured being a wife, mother, and grandmother. There was nothing she was more proud of than her family. She didn’t simply tell the people she loved that she supported their dreams—she showed up for them. She celebrated their accomplishments, encouraged them through their struggles, and made certain they always knew they had someone firmly in their corner.

Her granddaughters, Kiaunna and Kamarra, lovingly called her “Mawmaw,” a name that represented one of her most treasured roles. She was the kind of grandmother every child deserves—loving, involved, proud, supportive, and always ready to make memories. Her family was truly the center of her world.

Throughout her life, Joy’s natural ability to care for others extended well beyond her family. She worked for many years as a cosmetologist before pursuing another calling and earning her Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) license. She later worked at Fredericktown Schools, where her caring and encouraging nature allowed her to continue making a difference in the lives of others.

Some of Joy’s happiest moments were also the simplest—spending time with her family, baking, loving on her pups Loki and Daisy, spending time with her cat Max, and enjoying her grand-pups. She didn’t need grand occasions to make something meaningful. The everyday moments, conversations, laughter, and time spent together were what mattered.

Joy knew tremendous love throughout her life, but she also endured tremendous loss. She faced illness and experienced heartbreak that would have tested anyone’s strength. Yet through it all, she remained Joy—loving, generous, funny, encouraging, and remarkably strong. Life could knock her down, but it could never take away the love she had for her family or the fire that made her who she was.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents, Herb and Dorothy Beardsley; her siblings, Sandra Wilkins, Terry Drushal, Gerald Beardsley, and Pam Roberts; her beloved son, Taylor Ross; her grandson, Desmond Goins; her parents-in-law, Louis and Dorothy (Berkshire) Ross; her sisters-in-law, Becky Valentine and Cody Ross; and her brothers-in-law, David Geyer Sr. and Chuck Wisecarver.

Surviving to continue Joy’s memory and carry forward the love she gave so freely are her husband, Harold Ross; her daughter and son-in-law, Tiffany and Correy Goins; her granddaughters, Kiaunna (Brock) Goins and Kamarra Goins; her beloved pups, Loki and Daisy; her cat, Max; and her grand-pups.

She is also survived by several beloved in-laws, including Bobby Wilkins, Mike Drushal, Tim Roberts, Jane Wisecarver, John Ross, Larry Valentine, Pat Geyer, and Mary (Clyde) Soller, along with several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and others whose lives were touched by Joy’s love.

For her daughter Tiffany, Joy was so much more than a mother. She was her best friend, confidante, teacher, biggest supporter, and the person on the other end of those ordinary daily conversations that now mean more than words could ever express.

Perhaps one of the hardest parts of saying goodbye is realizing just how extraordinary those ordinary moments really were—the phone calls, the advice, the laughter, the encouragement, and simply knowing Mom was always there.

Joy taught her daughter so much about being a wife, a mother, a friend, and a strong woman. In Tiffany’s words:

“Mom, you taught me everything—except how to navigate this world without you. Thank you for being my best friend, for supporting every dream, for giving the best advice and the best hugs, and for showing me what unconditional love looks like. I can only hope to be half the wife, mother, and friend that you have been to all of us.”

Joy’s absence leaves an immeasurable space in the lives of those who loved her, but so does the legacy she leaves behind. Her strength lives on in her family. Her encouragement lives in the voices of those she lifted up. Her love lives in her children and grandchildren. Her laughter, her firecracker personality, her hugs, her outspoken nature, and even that wonderful stubborn streak will be remembered and missed beyond measure.

She was deeply loved. She will be forever missed. And she will always be wife, Mom, Malmaw, best friend, and home to the people who loved her most.

A gathering of family and friends will be held for Joyce from 3 PM to 5 PM on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Farus Funeral Home of Duncan Falls. A caring cremation will take place afterwards.

www.farusfh.com