Obituaries

Joy Goodson Keever, 79, a resident of Carillon Assisted Living in Lincolnton and formerly of 4964 E. Highway 150 in the Pumpkin Center community, died Sunday, July 17, 2016.  The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 24, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. in the sanctuary of Macedonia Baptist Church of Lincolnton.  A memorial service will follow at 4:00 p.m. at the church.  There will be a private family graveside service. 

Joy was the daughter of Ethel McClure Ballard and L.K. “Jack” Goodson.  Born December 12, 1936, she was a lifetime resident of Lincoln County, where her family has deep roots.  She attended Rock Springs School, graduating in 1955.  She was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church from her childhood.  She taught Sunday School for decades, as well as leading youth and missions programs and later coordinated the senior adult program, now named JOY (Just Older Youth) Ministry in her honor.  Joy began an early career in banking before starting a family and business, Keever Building and Developing, Inc., with her husband, the late Richard Lee Keever.  In 1983, she returned to banking as the first employee of Lincoln Bank.  She served as vice president of Lincoln Bank and its parent company, Carolina First Bancshares, and later of First Charter when the banks merged.  As part of her work she coordinated a bank travel program, and she traveled the world with bank customers who became friends.  Richard joined her on those trips until his death in 2002.

In retirement, she enjoyed the company of her family, and especially of her grandchildren.  She married Darrel Hager of Alexis in 2006. 

Joy’s survivors include her husband Darrell; four children, J. Renee Keever of Cary, Rick Keever and his wife Mary Keever of Winston-Salem, Dr. Rhonda Keever Hager and husband Steve Hager of Iron Station, and Dr. Rachel Keever and her husband Chris Carter of  Forest City; four grandchildren, Ben and Alyssa Hager and Katherine and Emma Carter; a sister, Alice Jean Beidleman of Lincolnton; and many special nephews, nieces, and cousins. 

She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Ray Goodson of Lincolnton; and sisters, Mary Lee Keener of Lincolnton, Mildred Ramsey of Raleigh, and Laura Beal of Lincolnton.

Her family appreciates the loving care she received from the staff of the memory care unit at Carillon Assisted Living of Lincolnton, where she lived since May 2014, and of the Catawba Valley Hospice House in Newton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to JOY Ministry at Macedonia Baptist Church, 5286 E. Highway 150, Lincolnton, NC 28092, or Alzheimer’s Association, In Memory of Joy G. Keever, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011, or call 1-800-272-3900.