Joan Yvonne (McCoy) Posey

Joan Yvonne McCoy came into this world on July 24, 1933, to Bill and Fay; 2 teens in young love at a time when the world was deeply mired in the Great Depression.  A happy baby, and then an active toddler, Joan grew up in the outskirts of Carlisle, Pennsylvania in a small borough called Mt. Holly Springs.  The Yellow Breeches creek meandered through the countryside, and this special bubbling brook would become a touch stone throughout Joan’s life. She would spend summer days, with Cousin Shyrle by her side, in that stream with a mason jar and a piece of bread catching “minnies” enjoying the cool relief of the mountain run-off.

A vibrant teen, active in the marching band, and a valued member of the basketball team, Joan had many friends as a “Bubbler” of Boiling Springs High School.  Staying home after graduation and finding clerical work in Carlisle, Joan was forging her independence yet still devoted to her family and helping raise her younger sister, Margie and little brother, Bill Jr.

Faithful members of Barnitz United Methodist Church, the McCoy family and the rest of the congregation, on a Sunday in 1954, welcomed a young student pastor, who had been assigned to his very first church.  Harold Eugene Posey, or Pete, as he was known since he was a boy, made quite an impression on Joan, but not before he noticed her.  A young beauty with soft brown eyes and a lovely smile, Pete was smitten.  After a 2-year courtship, Pete and Joan were married at Barnitz, which sits approximately 50 yards from the bank of the Yellow Breeches Creek. Later in life, Pete commissioned a creek side bench to commemorate the meeting, the falling in love, and the wedded bliss of Pete and Joan. They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on October 19th.

Joan and Pete served many churches throughout their lifetime together.  In the winter of 1970, with daughters Christi and Patti, in 6th and 3rd grade respectively, and foster son Kevin, the family headed west to relocate to Wichita, Kansas.  Joan helped Pete serve four different church communities in Wichita and El Dorado – the congregants were blessed with Joan’s ministry of love, compassion, and kindness.

Joan’s family was her number one priority, and she provided gentle guidance and loving support to Christi and Patti in their many interests and adventures. She was always proud of their musical, athletic, and academic accomplishments. That devotion extended to Kevin, whom Joan and Pete chose to foster from the age of 2. Kevin was placed in foster care due to difficult family circumstances as well as being mentally challenged.  He adored his mom, Joan, and they shared a unique bond until his death in 2024.

After the girls graduated from college, Pete and Joan returned to Pennsylvania to care for Joan’s parents.  They built a charming log home in the woods, lovingly named “Acorn Acres”, in Mt. Holly Springs. Daily visits from deer, wild turkeys, a million squirrels, and an abundance of birds made it a lovely place to sit quietly or enjoy a wonderful chat complete with snacks or a cup of coffee.

Joan loved to adorn her home with holiday decorations; strategically placed in all the nooks and crannies, she was delighted when visitors came and commented on how festive the house looked. Whether at home entertaining guests, attending a church gathering or meeting a few friends for lunch, Joan was always the brightest light in the room.  Her cheerful demeanor attracted people for a quick visit or a sit-down chat.  She was genuinely interested in learning about their lives.  This superpower provided such wonderful connection for her and the people she met.  Joan will always be remembered for this remarkable gift of love and her investment of care and concern.

With Joan and Pete in Pennsylvania and their family “care team” in Kansas, it was decided to move them to Wichita into Cedarhurst, a lovely, assisted living center, that provided more help.  Here is where Joan made lasting impressions on the nurses, med techs, administrators, aides, food servers, and other residents.  Her daily dose of warmth and gratitude to all made her a favorite; not just to the people she interacted with every day but also through her Facebook page.  Joan enjoyed finding quotes, quips, and quaint artwork that she posted on her page daily to provide a bit of inspiration, joy, and happiness.  Her favorite was Thankful Thursday, where she shared her feelings of appreciation with pictures of her family.

Joan left behind a lasting legacy of devotion, thoughtfulness, and overwhelming love. It is up to us that loved her most to keep that alive through our lifetime.

Joan is survived by her husband, Pete; her daughters, Christi, and Patti; her daughter-in-law, Teresa Murray Posey; her son-in-law, Tim Deneen; her granddaughters, Kylie, Cortney, and their husbands, Tim Schulte and Bruce Crandon; her great grandchildren, Jack, Henry, Ryan Crandon, and JP, William, Palmer Schulte. She is preceded in death by foster son, Kevin DeSantis.

Services will be at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, 1600 W. 27th St. North, Wichita, KS. 67204 at 11:00 am on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Carlisle United Methodist Church, 333 S. Spring Garden St. Carlisle, PA. 17013at 11:00 am on November 28th, 2026. Visitation will be at 10:30 am.

If you are able and you are interested, please consider donating on Joan’s behalf to:

Mission Fund at Carlisle United Methodist Church, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Checks can be made out to CUMC with Haiti on the memo line.

Kim Gibney Scholarship Fund

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/iv5ocs