Joy A. Starr

Joy Amanda Starr (Lois Kay Kiser, aka Lois Kay Galindo), of Chelsea, Mich., formerly of Tecumseh, age 83, died Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 after a long battle with cancer at Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born May 21, 1940 in Tecumseh, the daughter of Wilmer L. and Bettie Z. (Stout) Kiser.

Lois graduated from Tecumseh High School and attended Eastern Michigan University where she met her first husband, Jorge Galindo, and were married in 1959 for 24 years. Lois and Jorge raised six children together and remained close friends even after she remarried. When her children were young, she was a Bluebirds and Campfire Girls Troop Leader and attended the Ridgeway Church of the Nazarene. She was an amazing seamstress and made many of her children’s clothes, Halloween and school play costumes, doll clothes and even intricate wedding dresses! She loved art and creativity and passed that love onto her children.

Joy married Larry Duane Derr on July 7, 1984 in Adrian. In 1990, to the surprise of her family and friends, Lois changed her name to Joy Amanda Starr and she was so proud of, and loved her new name every day for the rest of her life. She was always “Mom” to her children and “Grandma” to her grandchildren. Everyone she met commented on what a beautiful name it was, which brought “Joy” to her daily. Joy retired from the U.S. Postal Service in Ann Arbor as a rural mail carrier in 2002. The customers on her route loved seeing her color coordinated outfits with a different color for each day of the week. Joy loved nothing more than spending time with her family. She enjoyed reading, traveling and playing games throughout her life. Joy battled cancer twice and her strong spirit will live on in her children and grandchildren.  

Joy is survived by her husband, Larry Derr, of Tecumseh; her first husband, Jorge Galindo of Tecumseh; children, Maureen (Mark) Bell of Belton, Mo; Jim “Jamie” (Laura) Galindo of Carleton; Anita Mosier of Chelsea/Tecumseh; Susan “Tracy” (Mark) DiSanto of Sterling Heights; David (Keesha) Galindo of Austin, Texas; and Trisha (Josh) Barth of Tecumseh; brother, Larry (Shirley) Kiser of Gainesville, Fla.; sister, Bettie West of Port Orchard, Wash.; grandchildren Michael Bell, Jonathon (Ashley) Bell, Christyn (Dallas) Tharp, Josh (Jennifer) Galindo, Christina (Kevin) Brown, Adam Galindo, Fallon Mosier, Laura Mosier, Olivia DiSanto, Vanessa DiSanto, Jude Galindo, Destiny Cook, Isabella Barth; and great-grandchildren, Carter Bell, Crosby Bell, Colson Bell, Camden Bell, Myryam Tharp, Killian Tharp, Leona Tharp and Annabel Tharp. Also step-son, Brandon Derr of Florida. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Marilee Birdwell.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Huron Valley Humane Society. Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea.