Viola Joy Banks Carr Obituary (1930 - 2018)

Viola Joy Banks Carr passed away peacefully on November 11, 2018, surrounded by the love of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Joy’s life was marked by love starting the day she was born. She was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1930 to Irene Canova Banks and Jewel Banks in Las Vegas, Nevada. She had one sister, Carolyn Jewel Banks. After Joy’s mother passed away in 1939, Joy and Carolyn moved to Southern California where she lived with her aunt, Viola Clark, and various other family members until her graduation from Van Nuys high school in Los Angeles, California. She married Ellis L. Carr on July 11, 1948 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Together, they had three children: Jeri Lee Carr, Lawrence (“Larry”) Steven Carr and Jody Lynne Carr. Joy loved life and loved people. She was always up for an adventure and was filled with wanderlust. After she and Ellis divorced, she never stayed in one place very long and joked often with her family that she was a gypsy. Joy lived in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. But of all the places she lived, Joy’s favorite places were by the water, whether by oceans, lakes or rivers. Each new place brought new and interesting people into Joy’s life. Joy was welcoming to all people and loved meeting new friends. And everyone who knew Joy, loved Joy. They loved her kind heart, her engaging stories, her irreverent humor, and her infectious laugh. Her laugh was contagious; everyone knew and remembered Joy by her laugh. Joy was a wonderful cook and specialized in home-style cooking and comfort food. No recipe ever called for too much butter and cool whip was a staple in her refrigerator. Joy started five restaurants over the course of her life in Texas, New Mexico, California, Arizona and Utah. And although she never enjoyed the business side of things, she loved cooking and developing the menu. Her recipes are a treasure to her family. Joy loved her family and lived close to many of her grandchildren throughout her life. She was very loved and will be very missed. Joy was preceded in death by her father, Jewel; her mother, Irene; her sister, Carolyn Franklin; her ex-husband, Ellis Carr; and her son-in-law, David Alcorn. She is survived by her children: Jeri Alcorn, Larry Carr (Laurie), and Jody Weiner; her 11 grandchildren: Kasi, James, Kari, Aimee, Brian, Krissy, Jami, Mike, Megan, Renee, and Kaitlyn; her 28 great-grandchildren; and her great-great-grandson. Private, family service held December 15, 2018.