Loveta Joy McLain, 90, passed away peacefully on August 22nd in Fillmore after a long and fulfilling life of faith.
Loveta, better known to her loved ones as Joy, was born to Odas and Johnnie Yeats in Oklahoma on September 5, 1933. She and her parents resided in Grady along with her brother Max and sister Delores. During her youth, Joy showcased her athletic prowess by breaking sprinting records at Ringling High School before graduating in 1951.
In 1952, Joy met and married the love of her life, Ira McLain. Together, the newlyweds decided to leave Oklahoma, spending time in Colorado before ultimately settling in Fillmore, California, where they raised their two sons Keith and Bobby.
During her life, Joy worked as a telephone operator and homemaker and served as the resident organist or pianist in the churches she attended. She loved to share her talent for the piano with her family, who would often find her sitting at the instrument during family gatherings playing and singing along to beautiful pieces she’d taught herself to play by ear.
Joy enjoyed spending time with family. No matter what time of day they arrived, she was always ready to greet a guest with a homemade meal and a warm hug. If they were lucky, they may have even been served a slice of her famous chocolate cake and a glass of milk. Joy was also an avid Angels baseball fan and loved it when one of her family members would stop by to watch a game with her. She liked playing pinochle with friends, cheering her family members on at their sporting events, and singing hymns in Sunday service.
Joy was preceded in death by her parents Odas and Johnnie and her beloved husband, Ira.
She is survived by her siblings Max Yeats and Delores (Warren) Yoder; her son Donald Keith McLain, daughter-in-law Susan McLain, son Bobby McLain, and daughter-in-law Lori McLain; her grandchildren: Vanessa (Jason) Palmer, Tim (Jennifer) McLain, Breanna McLain, Kellsie (Charlie) Weis, Carson McLain, and Presley McLain; her great-grandchildren: Hailey (Austin) Rubick, Grant Palmer, Ava McLain, Caden McLain, and great-great-grandchild: Walker Rubick.
A graveside service will be held at Bardsdale Cemetery on Thursday, September 5th, at 11:00am.
To sign the family’s online guestbook, share stories and post pictures please visit our website www.santapaulafuneralhome.com and click on Loveta J. Mclain’s name located in Recent Obituaries.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Family Owned & Operated Robert Rey Garcia Jr., Funeral Services, Santa Paula, CA (805)-229-7054.