Joy Elouise Eldred

Joy Elouise Stone-Eldred, 95, passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho on October 26, 2023.

Joy was born on February 6, 1928 at home on the family wheat farm near Fromosa, Kansas to John and Laura Stone.

The family left Kansas during the dust bowl moving to Arlee, Montana and later moving to Cocolalla, Idaho in July 1938.

Joy graduated from Sandpoint Senior High School in 1941.  She went on to earn a bookkeeping degree from Kinman Business University in 1947.  Joy met Walt Eldred at a dance in the Sagle School.  Joy and Walt were married on December 18, 1953.  They lived their lives on the Eldred farm in Sagle.

Joy worked for White Pine Lumber Company for 10 years after graduating from Kinmans.  She also worked as a mail carrier in Sagle and surrounding areas as well as a bookkeeper for the Co-op in Sandpoint.  Joy was also a 4-H leader for many years and belonged to the Sagle Helping Hands club.

She had many hobbies such as painting, sewing, crochet and gardening.  Her real passion was raising birds.  Joy raised peacocks, ducks, quail and pheasants in addition to the many laying hens she raised.  She sold eggs to families in Sagle and Sandpoint as well as Harolds IGA and the Pastime Café.  She enjoyed hatching eggs as well and sold hundreds of chicks and ducklings to the feed stores in Sandpoint.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Neola Cadwallader, Kenneth Stone, Zelda LaBlanc and Telva Bolkcom; husband Walt and son in law William Bartro.

She is survived by her daughters Sydney (Mike) Moran, Dannielle Bartro, Gaea (Mike) Counts; grandchildren Jason (Karen) Lauritzen, Amber (Bill) Maddox, Jessica Villalobos; six great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  

A memorial potluck dinner will be held at the Sagle Community Hall on November 11, 2023 at 11:00 am.