Strafford: “On June 20, 2018 at 7:25pm Joy Parsons Gilbert the love of my life passed from this life and ascended to our Heavenly Fathers house in Heaven. She was one of the warmest and most loving persons you could ever meet. She was gifted with artistic ability and had a love for horses and animals and loved her pastime which was riding horses.” Tom Joy was born on January 6, 1956 in Presque Isle, ME; the daughter of Robert F. and Marion (Barnes) Parsons. She attended Burdett College in Boston even though her artistic abilities were drawing and writing calligraphy. “She possessed so many virtuous qualities – kindness, gentleness, joy, gladness, goodness, peaceful countenance, steadfastness. I especially enjoyed her child-like faith and silly sense of humor. Joy was absolutely devoted to God with an immovable, unshakable faith. She touched the lives of all she met and she leaves a uniquely shaped void that no other can fill. My heart goes out to all who loved her and also mourn her passing. I will miss her every single day until I see her again on the other side. RIP dearest friend. You fought the good fight and proved "Valiant" till the end.” (Kim, a very Dear Friend) She is survived by her husband, Thomas R. Gilbert Jr of Strafford; Stepsons, Peter Gilbert and Jonathan Gilbert; Daughters in law, Kathy Gilbert and Emily Ferguson Gilbert all of Rochester; her granddaughter, Julianna Gilbert; her sisters in law, Karen Parsons of Barrington, Mary Gilbert of Portsmouth; Brother in law, Mark Gilbert of Stratham; her cousin Barb Bubar of Ft. Fairfield, ME; her Aunts, Rowena Rand of Presque Isle, ME and Glendora Pettygrove of NC. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at 6:00pm at Purdy Memorial Chapel, 2 Concord Road, Lee, NH. Interment will be private at the NH State Veteran’s Cemetery, Boscawen, NH. To sign our online guestbook, please go to www.purdyfuneralservice.com