Martha Joy Gilleard, 86, of Mount Pleasant passed away on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the New London Specialty Care.
Joy was born on February 10, 1940, in Mount Pleasant, the daughter of Russell Veldon and Carmen Ursel (Hinkle) Guinn; her stepfather was Earl Barr. Joy was a 1958 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School and attended Phoenix College and Arizona State University. Joy was united in marriage to Raymond LeRoy Gilleard on July 6, 1958, at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant. He preceded her in death on November 24, 2024, after 66 years of marriage.
While in high school, Joy played the drums in band and sang in Mixed Glee Club, worked at the Temple Theater, Mount Pleasant Drive-In Theater, TY’s Café and Potters Drugstore. Following her graduation, she worked at Mount Pleasant Bank and Trust where she received training for her career. Joy and her husband moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1963, where she joined the Arizona Bank staff in Glendale, Arizona. She was promoted to supervisor, then transferred to Northwest Village branch as Assistant manager. In 1970 she was appointed Regional Operations Manager of the State of Arizona. The bank merged with Security Pacific Bank, and she became the Vice President of Bank Operations. She later returned to Bank of America from where she retired in 1995, after 31 years of service.
After her retirement she and her husband spent 13 years traveling the United States, Canada and Mexico and wintered in Picacho Peak RV Resort. Joy and her husband returned to Mount Pleasant in 2008. She enjoyed playing bridge along the way and making lasting friendships. Joy had a love of cooking and was always giving it away to a friend or someone who was in need. She enjoyed crocheting and crafting and was an avid reader. She attended the First United Methodist Church of Mount Pleasant, volunteered at the Fellowship Cup, was a member of Friends of Henry County Health Center and served as Treasurer, Mount Pleasant Women’s Club and served as Treasurer, past President of Financial Women International of the Cactus Wren Group in Phoenix and a member of the Goodwill Industries Auxiliary, serving as Treasurer for a number of years, TTT Chapter of DD and Mount Pleasant Monday and Thursday Duplicate Bridge Groups. Spending time with family and friends was very important to Joy.
Those thankful for sharing in her life include her son, Gregory Allen Gilleard, of Arizona, her granddaughter Amber Lee (Clint) Harper, her three great grandchildren, Brex, Lilly and London, her sister, Donna Fillinger, her brother, Tom Guinn, a step-sister, Joyce Young, her step-brothers, Kent (Jean) Thomson, Roger Thomson and Monty (Sheri) Thomson, her brother-in-law, Paul Hoer, Gale (Janice) Gilleard, along with several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her step-father, her husband, a brother, Timothy Guinn, a sister, Judy Louise Hoer, two nephews, Anthony Fillinger, Joshua Fillinger, a niece, Sharri Fillinger, a step-brother, Virgil Barr and a brother-in-law, Jim Fillinger and a step-sister, Verlee Van Amerongen.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant. Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Friday at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant where the family will be present from 4 to 7 p.m. that evening. Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church, The Fellowship Cup or to Care Initiatives Hospice. Burial will be in the Brooks Cemetery, rural New London at a later time.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Joy.