Joy Lou Howlett Anderson

Joy Anderson was a lifelong artist. She was born Joy Lou Howlett to James and Lucille Howlett in Dallas, TX on January 31, 1931. They were life-long Methodists and Joy met her husband at Tyler Street Methodist Church in Oak Cliff. Joy married a farm boy from East Texas, Ennis Avon Anderson, who went by Andy. Together they had 3 kids - Terry, Becky, and James.

They eventually made their home in Arlington, with a family country home on Andy's old farm land. Joy and Andy went to ‘the country’ often to find peace outside of the city. They created countless memories for their family both at home and in East Texas. Andy credited Joy with the success of their family business, Arlington Carpets, and they traveled all over the world together. They were charter members of New World UMC in Arlington, TX and Joy designed the stained glass in the sanctuary.

Joy was always creative, an ever-learning artist. She frequented museums and the theater, and her art room was a creative's dream space. Through classes and in her art room she explored oil painting, watercolor, pottery, marbling, mixed media, and more. She created beauty - as much as she could, as long as she could. Progressive before her time, she left a legacy of love, expression, and acceptance. Joy liked her glasses big, her coffee hot, her hands covered in paint, and her wine glass full.

Joy was able to live out her years in her home, which was something she desperately wanted. In her latter years she loved sitting in her big blue chair, coloring, picking up sticks in the yard, and watching NCIS.

Joy Anderson passed peacefully on August 29, 2024. Her legacy lives and breathes in her art and all of the love she poured into her family and friends. She’s reunited in death with Andy, daughter Terry Dunklin, her parents and sister, and many friends. Joy is survived by daughter Becky Anderson, son James (Sherrie) Anderson, and son-in-law Steve Dunklin; grandchildren Abby (Mike) Johnson, Jonathan (Courtney) Flookes, Emily Dunklin, Connor (Preston) Anderson, Jordyn Anderson, McKenna Anderson, Avery Anderson, Whitten Anderson, Chase Anderson, Justice Anderson, and Selah Anderson; and great-grandkids Henry Flookes, Trent Johnson, and Audrey Flookes.

We celebrate the life of Joy Anderson at 11:00 am on Friday, September 13 at New World United Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. Memorials: New World United Methodist Church, 2201 N. Davis, Arlington, TX, 76012.