Joy Marie (Miller) Houston

Joy Marie Houston (Miller, Martin) of Piney Creek, North Carolina, passed away on Sept. 16, 2025, at the age of 51.

Joy was born on February 24th, 1974, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Barbara D. Miller [Hampson] and Joseph A. Miller.

She grew up in Lakeville, Minnesota then moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and attended Deer Valley High School, Glendale Community College and Arizona State University. She moved to California in 1999 then relocated to Pennsylvania in 2000. While in Pennsylvania Joy graduated from the Cisco Networking Academy and worked for Toll Brothers. She moved to Burlington/Liberty, North Carolina to work at Lab Corp. It was during this time in North Carolina, she met Christopher John Houston, whom she married in Sevierville, Tennessee in 2010 and became a blended family. The family moved to Piney Creek, North Carolina in 2017, to their dream retirement home and to enjoy the mountain life.

Joy was gifted the talent of art. She loved painting, crocheting, stitching, pottery, sewing, quilting, wood working, and many other artistic interests, which are prominently displayed in the family home. Joy loved animals and became a well-known breeder of multiple dog breeds over the years in North Carolina. She also had horses, parrots, parakeets, goats, bunnies, chickens, ferrets, and her Baby Boots Capuchin. Joy was a social person and loved meeting new people. Joy was self-determined, outspoken, and always considered Chris's children as her own. Joy loved to travel and was able to accompany Chris on many trips to include some of her favorites, Ft. Worth TX, Seattle WA, Las Vegas NV, Orlando FL, New York City and just this past year to San Diego CA and Mexico City, Mexico.

Joy is lovingly survived by her husband of 15 years; Christopher John Houston, her children; Joseph Russell Miller [Rachel Marie McKinney], Amara Marie Martin, Jonathan Ryan Houston, Athan Michael Martin, Adam Christopher Houston and Shara Marie Houston; her grandchildren; Charlotte Rose Chriscoe [Rachel] and Lilly Lynn Miller [Joseph and Rachel], her parents; Joseph A. Miller and Barbara D. Miller and brother, Jay J. Miller.

Joy had a huge heart of gold and would help anyone who needed it. Joy was known to be the first to help, offer comfort, a place to stay or aid anyone who was in need.

Visitation will take place on Saturday, Sept 27th, 2025, at 12pm until 2pm at Thomas Family Funeral Service, 115 Hawthorne St, Sparta, NC 28675.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Twin Oaks Animal Shelter, 2970 US Hwy 21 N, Sparta, NC 28675.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Joy's dear friend, Sandy Vannoy, who became a member of the family since the moving to Piney Creek.

Thomas Family Funeral Service is honored to be serving the Houston family. If you wish, online tributes may be extended to the family at www.thomasfamilyfs.com.

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