Joy Belle Stockwell

Joy was born at Cedars of Lebanon hospital in Los Angeles to Silvia and Harold Kolko on June 16, 1941, at 3AM. She grew up in Granada hills and went through 12th grade there. She was part of a singing trio with Gayla and Char, they called themselves the “Page Girls”.

At the age of 16 she married Michael L. Stockwell and had two kids, Charlene Kay and Dean Kent Stockwell at the age of 18 and 19 respectively.

In the early sixties the family moved to Bucklands beach in New Zealand for about 1.5 to 2 years where Mike’s parents and brother lived. After about 18 months the family decided to move back to Costa Mesa California in Orange County to pursue better work opportunities for Mike. By late 1960 they moved to the city of Fountain Valley within Orange County where Joy lived for the next 50 years. Joy worked at the Sand Crab beauty salon in Huntington Beach. She also was an aerobics fitness instructor for the city of Huntington Beach. In 1977 she was divorced from Michael Stockwell and in 1985 was married to Bob McElravy.

Joy got interested in interior decorating and went back to school to learn more around interior decorating and in May of 1988 she took and passed the B-General Contractors license, and a C15 flooring and floor covering license. From there, she opened up her own interior flooring business, “Joy Spectrum interiors Inc.” She worked in flooring the next 25 or so years until retirement. She enjoyed watching her grand kids grow up and the arrival of great grand kids.

Joy passed away at 1PM on Dec. 8th, 2025 in the Mc Cottage board and care facility after fighting a bout of breast cancer for about 10 months in 2023/2024 and then another bout of bone and spinal cancer for about 6 months in 2025. She is survived by her son and daughter, Dean and Charlene, and her daughter and son in-laws, Rachel and Scott, and 5 grandchildren, Cameron, Kaity, Jennifer, Sean, and Erin. Also 5 great grandchildren, Daniel, Nathan, Nora, Amelia, and Audrey. Her brother Tim Tipton, and nieces Anne Ingram and Cheryl Houy and Cheryl’s husband John Houy, nephews Bill Cross, Doug Stockwell, and Brian & Matt Tipton. Joy also had a sister Shelly Cross and brother in-law Johnny Cross, that preceded her in death.

She loved all her Grandchildren and crocheted each of them an Afghan blankets in which she took great pride. She was also proud that all her children and five grandchildren all gaining formal college educations.

Joy was a very loving mother to Charlene and Dean. Later in life she was known as Mimi to all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She stated many times that her family was her pride and joy. Joy was a devout Christian and gained peace from the fact that she would be going home to her Lord and Savior. Mimi had a big heart and will be missed.