Born in West Virginia on  
Wednesday 
July 03,1963, at 10:39 am. 
He weighed in at 7lbs. and 1 oz.

This is one of the last photos of Joe, taken 1 week prior to his leaving.
Jessica and Justin  with their Daddy.
Taken November 11,2005
JOE'S MOM, CONNIE,
JOE'S DAD ,JIM

JOE'S SIBLINGS,
 SISTER, CATHY SUE, AND 
TWO BROTHERS,MARK AND MATT.
JOE'S NIECE  MANDY

JOE JOINED A LOCAL BAND,
 "THE HEAT", 
IN 1986. 
HE PLAYED BASE GUITAR AND SANG LEAD AND BACK UP VOCALS. HE HAD A GREAT VOICE.
HE COULD TEACH HIMSELF TO PLAY JUST ABOUT ANY INSTRUMENT. 
HE SPENT ABOUT 10 YEARS WITH THE BAND.
 HE TRULY LOVED PLAYING MUSIC.
I THINK MUSIC RAN THROUGH JOE'S VEINS. HE ABSOLUTELY LOVED PLAYING MUSIC OR LISTENING TO A GOOD SONG.HE LIKED ALL TYPES OF MUSIC FROM HARD ROCK TO COUNTRY TO BLUEGRASS.
I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND OVER 2000 SONGS THAT HE HAD ON OUR COMPUTER.HE ALWAYS KNEW WHO THE BAND WAS SINGING THE SONG AND MOST OF THE WORDS.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE ENJOYED ABOUT PLAYING IN "THE HEAT" WAS THAT THEY PLAYED ALL KINDS OF MUSIC. HE ALWAYS TRIED TO STAY UP WITH THE HOT SONGS AND ALWAYS GAVE IT HIS BEST TO DO IT AS CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL AS HE COULD.
FOR THE ONES WHO NEVER SAW HIM SING ON STAGE YOU WOULD NEVER BELIEVE THAT HE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL VOICE. I ALWAYS TRIED TO GET HIM TO FOLLOW THAT THROUGH BUT IT WAS A DREAM THAT NEVER GOTTEN TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY.
HE STARTED SINGING IN CHURCH, AND LATER JOINED A CHRISTIAN GROUP, THE CHRISTIANEIRS, ( NOT SURE ON THAT SPELLING), I BELEIVE HE WAS IN THE GROUP WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 16 OR 17 YEARS OLD. WE HAVE A RECORDING OF HIM SINGING A VERY BEAUTIFUL SONG,  AND SOME OF THE BETTER RECORDINGS FROM THE BAND DAYS, AND AS SOON AS I CAN GET IT ONTO MY COMPUTER I WILL ADD IT TO THIS SIGHT SO THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY HIS BEAUTIFUL VOICE.

JOE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL FROM 
'DUPONT HIGH' IN BELLE IN 1982


I KNOW THERE WERE ALOT OF FRIENDS THAT JOE RAN AROUND WITH IN HIGH SCHOOL. KEVIN YEAGER, THE WESTFALL BOYS, JEFF FERRELL, BILLY HOLSTEIN,BRIAN THOMAS, J.D. MCCLURE, ROBERT KEENAN, AND ALOT MORE THAT I CAN'T THINK OF I HOPE ANYONE WHO READS THIS SITE CAN GET THE WORD TO FRIENDS THAT HE  LOST TOUCH WITH OVER THE YEARS.
 


JOE AND JUDY WERE MARRIED                                                               
DECEMBER 16, 1984.

THEIR DAUGHTER, JESSICA WAS BORN 
DECEMBER 11,1985.
THEIR SON, JUSTIN WAS BORN
 MARCH 16, 1987.




JOE HELD MANY JOBS OVER THE YEARS.
HIS FIRST JOB WAS A NEWSPAPER BOY.
HE LATER WORKED AT ' BURGER CHEF' IN MARMET.
HE THEN WENT TO WORK FOR 'TURNPIKE FORD' OF MARMET.

HE WAS WORKING FOR A SERVICE STATION " BILLOS' IN CHELYAN, WHEN HIM AND JUDY MET.

AFTER THEY WERE MARRIED 
HE WORKED FOR ' PENNZOIL 10 MINUTE OIL CHANGE' IN KANAWHA CITY.
HE THEN WENT TO WORK FOR 'FREEMANS CLEANERS' IN KANAWHA CITY.

ALL OF THE PREVIOUS JOBS WERE SHORT LIVED.

HE WAS HIRED AT "RUS" OF KANAWHA CITY WHICH WAS LATER BOUGHT OUT BY "CINTAS".


JOE SPENT ALMOST 17 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY BEFORE LEAVING.
AFTER LEAVING 'CINTAS' JOE TOOK A FEW MONTHS OFF TO REST AND TO TRY TO FIND A JOB HE TRULY ENJOYED AND COULD SOMEDAY SEE HIMSELF RETIRE FROM.
AGAIN HE WORKED A FEW JOBS HE JUST DIDN'T LIKE...UNTIL MAY 2005, HE GOT A CALL FROM "PSI", A ROAD CONSTRUCTION TYPE COMPANY.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE LOOK OF EXCITMENT ON HIS FACE DURING THAT CALL.
JOE STARTED TO WORK FOR "PSI" MAY 11, 2005, AND WAS THRILLED. HE LOVED THE JOB AND THE PEOPLE HE WORKED WITH.
THE ONLY THING HE DIDN'T LIKE WAS THE NIGHTS AWAY FROM HOME. IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WE SPENT MORE NIGHTS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, THAN OVER ALL THE YEARS COMBINED.
JOE WASN'T LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING LAID OFF FOR THE WINTER, AND WE WERE HOPING FOR A MILD SHORT WINTER SEASON.

BUT AFTER THAT COLD HORRIBLE NOVEMBER MORNING, HE NO LONGER HAD ANY WORRYS.
This photo was taken by BJ on the turnpike November 10,2005. He had copied made and sent them to me within days of Joe's accident.




JOE WAS STRUCK AND KILLED ON THE JOB BY AN AUTOMOBILE FRIDAY ,NOVEMBER 18TH 2005 AT 10:10 AM.




MAY MY ONE TRUE LOVE REST IN PEACE FOREVER MORE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.

Always in Your Heart

Hush now, please don't cry
There comes a time when we all die
Just take heed now that I'm at peace
And from my pain I have release. 

I will always be watching over you
Our love will always be held true
Don't you weep now, don't you mourn
For my heart will then be torn. 

Just remember the good times we shared
Knowing that we always cared
I've not gone away, we'll never part
As I will always be in your heart.

THIS WAS OUR FIRST YEAR WITHOUT OUR JOE.
REALITY HASN'T SET IN.
NO DINNER WAS COOKED NO CELEBRATIONS WERE CELEBRATED.
ONLY TEARS STILL STREAMING DOWN OUR FACES.

TODAY IS OUR 21ST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
NO I DIDN'T SAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, I AM STILL MARRIED TO MY SOULMATE AND WILL ALWAYS BE.

THE DAY WAS A VERY HARD DAY, JESSICA OUR DAUGHTER IS OUT ON HER OWN, AND JUSTIN OUR SON, IS IN THE MILITARY AND HE IS OUT OF STATE.
MY MOTHER IN LAW, JOE'S MOM AND HIS SISTER CATHY, CAME DOWN TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME WITH ME, THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT ME TO BE ALONE.
WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IS THAT, ALL I WANTED WAS TO BE ALONE.
JOE ALWAYS SENT ME ROSES FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY, BUT THIS TIME HE GOT THE FLOWERS. I TOLD HIM LAST YEAR THAT I WANTED 1 ROSE FOR EVERY YEAR.
SO THIS YEAR I PUT 21 RED ROSES ON HIS GRAVE.


AND I WILL CONTINUE EVERY YEAR.

TODAYS OUR ANNIVERSARY
AND I FEEL SO ALONE.
YOU'RE CELEBRATING IN HEAVEN,
JESUS CALLED YOU  HOME.
I KNOW HE'S WITH ME TOO AND
YOU LIVE IN MY HEART,
BUT YOU CAN'T HOLD ME CLOSE
AND WIPE AWAY MY TEARS.
NOW THAT YOU'RE GONE
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LIVE.

I DREAMED OF YOU LAST NIGHT.
WAS IT REALLY JUST A DREAM?
IT FELT SO VERY REAL,
LIKE YOU WERE HERE WITH ME.
I'D BEEN RUNNING IN CIRCLES AND
COULDN'T FIND YOU ANYWHERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN
AND MY HEART WAS FILLED WITH FEAR.
JUST WHEN I WAS GIVING UP,
YOU SUDDENLY APPEARED.
YOU HELD ME IN YOUR ARMS
AND YOU HELPED ME UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING WILL BE OK AND 
I DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID.

GOD JUST CALLED YOU FIRST AND
SOME DAY HE'LL CALL ME.
WE CAN BE TOGETHER THEN
THROUGHOUT ETERNITY

CHRISTMAS OF 2005 WAS OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT OUR JOE.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD CHRISTMAS AT OUR HOME, BUT THIS YEAR WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THE FAMILY DECIDED FOR EVERYONE TO COME TO OUR HOME FOR CHRISTMAS EVE.
THAT WAS REALLY HARD, BECAUSE JOE AND I HAD SPOKEN OF THAT, AND HOW NICE IT WOULD BE TO HAVE CHRISTMAS EVE AT OUR HOME. I HATE IT THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL HE WASN'T HERE TO SHARE IT WITH US.
WE HAD A GOOD TIME BETWEEN THE TEARS, THERE WERE A FEW LAUGHS.
I FOUND A VERY PRETTY GLASS PICTURE FRAME THAT, I FEEL IN LOVE WITH AND I DIDN'T STOP UNTIL I BOUGHT EVERYONE THAT EACH STORE HAD, A GOT ONE FOR EVERY FAMILY MEMBER AND PUT A PICTURE OF JOE IN IT.
I GOT EVERYONE TO OPEN THEM UP AT ONE TIME , IT WAS WORTH ALL THE TIME I SPENT TRYING TO FIND ENOUGH, AND THE TIMES I WOULD HIDE MINE IN A CABINET SO NO ONE ELSE WOULD SEE IT.
I  HAD A HARD TIME BUYING FOR MY 2 BROTHER-IN-LAWS, JOE ALWAYS BOUGHT FOR THEM. I HAD A HARD TIME NOT BUYING FOR MY JOE. I COULD ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING THAT I WOULD SEE THAT I THOUGHT HE WOULD LIKE OR NEEDED. I THINK THAT WAS THE HARDEST PART.

JUSTIN OUR SON, BOUGHT ME A REALLY NICE GLASS MIRROR THAT HE WRAPPED AND PUT TO ME FROM JOE.  IT SAID TO MY WIFE. 
I DON'T THINK HE KNOWS HOW MUCH THAT MEANT TO ME.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN

I STILL HEAR THE SONGS,
I STILL SEE THE LIGHTS
I STILL FEEL YOUR LOVE
ON COLD WINTERY NIGHTS.

I STILL SHARE YOUR HOPES
AND ALL OF YOUR CARES
I'LL EVEN REMIND YOU
TO PLEASE SAY YOUR PRAYERS.

I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU
YOU STILL MAKE ME PROUD
YOU STAND HEAD AND SHOULDERS
ABOVE ALL THE CROWD.

KEEP TRYING EACH MOMENT
TO STAY IN HIS GRACE
I CAME HERE BEFORE YOU
TO HELP SET UP YOUR PLACE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
PERFECT ALL OF THE TIME.
HE FORGIVES YOU THE SLIP
IF YOU CONTINUE TO CLIMB.

TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS
PLEASE BE THANKFUL TODAY
I'M STILL CLOSE BESIDE YOU
IN A NEW SPECIAL WAY.

I LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY
NOW DON'T SHED A TEAR
CAUSE I'M SPENDING MY
CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS THIS YEAR.

A NEW YEAR BEGINS.
WE NEVER REALLY DID ANYTHING SPECIAL FOR NEW YEARS. MOST OF THE TIME I WOULD END UP FALLING ASLEEP AND JOE WOULD ALWAYS WAKE ME UP A FEW MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
WE ALWAYS KISSED EACH OTHER AND USUALLY WENT STRAIGHT TO BED.
THIS YEAR I ACTUALLY STAYED AWAKE. BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO KISS, AND WISH  HAPPY NEW YEAR TO.

TODAY IS VALENTINES DAY, AND IT WILL BE THE FIRST WITHOUT MY JOE.
AGAIN HE USUALLY ALWAYS SENT ME RED ROSES, AND COULD ALWAYS MANAGE TO BUY A VERY BEAUTIFUL CARD AND A SILLY CARD.
THIS TIME THERE WERE NO ROSES AND NO CARD FUNNY OR OTHERWISE.
JUST HIS EMPTY CHAIR.
I TOOK HIM ROSES FOR VALENTINES DAY.


AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

EASTER WITHOUT OUR JOE.

WE MADE THREE CROSSES AND TOOK THEM TO THE ROADSIDE.
THE RIBBONS READ, HUSBAND, FATHER AND SON.
WE DIDN'T DO MUCH TODAY. I ALWAYS HAD GOTTEN THE KIDS A BASKET AND ALWAYS  HAD JOE A LITTLE SOMETHING TOO. HE WAS NEVER TOO BIG ON CANDY BUT I COULD ALWAYS FIND A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT HE WOULD LIKE.

I HAD NEVER ATTENDED A SERVICE ON MEMORIAL DAY UNTIL THIS YEAR.

IT WAS VERY HOT.
WE WENT TO A SERVICE AT THE CEMETARY WHERE JOE IS LAID TO REST.
JOE'S MOM, CONNIE AND HIS SISTER CATHY WENT WITH ME AND LATER MY MOM, RUTH JOINED US.
THERE WAS PREACHING, AND LOADS OF GOSPEL SINGERS, THEY HAD A DOVE RELEASE, AND A BALLOON RELEASE, THEY READ EACH NAME THAT HAD BEEN LAID TO REST OVER THE LAST YEAR.
IT WAS A VERY NICE SERVICE.
IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL DAY FOR ALL OF US.

THE FIRST FATHERS DAY WITHOUT THEIR DADDY.

JUSTIN COULDN'T BE HERE HE WAS AT HIS ANNUAL TRAINING WITH THE MILITARY. BUT HE DID CALL ME AND HE REALLY WISHED HE COULD HAVE BEEN HERE.
JESSICA CALLED AND CHECKED IN ON ME.


I TOOK FLOWERS TO JOE AND SPENT ALONG TIME TALKING TO HIM ABOUT HELPING ME WATCH OUT FOR OUR CHILDREN.

TODAY IS A VERY HARD DAY FOR ME.
I HAVE MADE PLANS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO MEET ME AT THE CEMETARY.
BACK IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE LOST JOE, I HAD REQUESTED A DOVE RELEASE AT THE FUNERAL. BUT DO TO THE WINTERY WEATHER IT WASN'T POSSIBLE.
SO I HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE IT DONE FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.

I ALSO TOOK 43 BALLOONS ONE FOR EACH YEAR AND WE RELEASED THOSE AS WELL.
SEE THE PICTURES AND VIDEOS SECTION FOR  MORE.

THE DAY WENT BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BUT AGAIN EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH.

OH HOW I MISS THE FIRE WORKS WE WOULD GO TO SEE.
THIS YEAR THERE WERE NONE TO SEE.
JOE WOULD TAKE ME TO EVERY FIREWORKS SHOW IN THE AREA EVERY TIME THEY WOULD HAVE THEM.
BE IT THE 4TH OF JULY FESTIVITIES OR REGATTA OR ANY BIG SHOW WE WERE THERE.

WE ONLY MISSED THEM ONE YEAR. AND HE TOLD ME FOR DAYS HOW SORRY HE WAS THAT WE HAD MISSED THEM.

WE USUALLY HAD 2 SHOWS FOR THE 4TH. ONE IN ST. ALBANS AND THE ONE IN CHARLESTON. 
ST ALBANS WAS USUALLY BETTER AND WE COULD SIT IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK OR CAR AND WATCH.

THIS YEAR I DIDN'T EVEN WATCH THE NIGHTLY NEWS BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
(THEY GOT RAINED OUT)
I THINK IT WAS HIM GIVING ME A CHANCE TO GET HOME PAST THE AREA WERE THEY WERE GOING TO BE PUT OFF. 
BECAUSE HE KNEW I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THEM, WITH OUT HIM WITH ME.

I MISS YOU BABE.
EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY
I LOVE YOU

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY.
THE BIG 40.
IT WAS A VERY HARD DAY. JOE AND I WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT GETTING OLDER, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD BE HERE TO HELP THE OTHER ONE WHEN THINGS QUIT WORKING, HAHA.

I REALLY MISSED MY JOE TODAY AND EVERYONE TRIED TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR ME.
I TOLD EVERYONE I JUST WANTED TO FORGET ABOUT MY BIRTHDAY AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY AGE. I COULD CARE LESS.

I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE CELEBRATING.

A FEW MONTHS BACK, JOE'S DAD MADE A COMMENT ABOUT IF WE COULD SEE ABOUT PUTTING UP A SIGN OF SOME SORT, TO HONOR JOE'S MEMORY.
I HAD THOUGHT THAT WE COULD HAVE A SMALL SIGN MADE SOMEWHERE AND HAVE HIS NAME AND THE DAY HIS WAS KILLED PUT ON IT.
BUT JIM TOOK IT ONE STEP FURTHER.
THIS WAS ALL JIM'S DOING, HE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA AND FOLLOWED IT THROUGH, SO ALL THE GRADITUTE GOES TO HIM.

HE CONTACTED BONNIE BROWN ONE OF OUR LEGISLATURES, AND TOLD HER THE STORY OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO OUR JOE, AND TOLD HER WHAT WE WANTED AS FAR AS SOME TYPE OF SIGN .
SHE HAD HER ASSISTANT CALL JIM, AND FIND OUT ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT JOE AND ALL THE INFO THAT SHE MIGHT NEED.
BONNIE BROWN WAS TAKING IT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND WAS GOING TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A SIGN PUT OVER AT THE ROADSIDE WHERE JOE WAS KILLED.
WELL SEVERAL WEEKS WENT BY AND BONNIE, CONTACTED JIM, AND THE RESOLUTION HAD FAILED. SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT HAD GOTTEN INTRODUCED SOON ENOUGH. BUT THAT SHE WOULD TRY AGAIN DURING A SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP IN JUNE.
SO WE PATIENTLY WAITED.
AND IF ALL WERE TOLD I DON'T THINK ANY OF US THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD GO ANYWHERE.
BUT ABOUT MID JUNE, JIM GOT THE CALL FROM BONNIE BROWN, AND THE RESOLUTION HAD PASSED


THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, WAS OFFICIALLY RENAMING ROUTE 3 IN BOONE COUNTY BETWEEN MADISON AND RACINE,
"JOE KING MEMORIAL HIGHWAY"
WE ARE ALL JUST TICKLED PINK.
MANY MANY THANKS TO BONNIE BROWN AND HER STAFF FOR ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT THEY PUT INTO HELPING MAKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR OUR FAMILY



WE GOT THE PHONE CALL FROM THE DOH OFFICE AND AWAY WE WENT.
JUSTIN AND I FOLLWED THE DOH GUYS OVER TO BOONE COUNTY THIS MORNING, AUGUST 1, 2006 AND UP WENT THE SIGNS, IT WAS SO MOVING AND SUCH A GREAT HONOR FOR OUR JOE.
MANY TEARS WERE SHED, WATCHING THOSE SIGNS GO UP, AND THINKING ABOUT HOW SPECIAL OUR JOE IS TO ALL OF US.
I TOOK 4 ENTIRE ROLLS OF FILM. HAHA AND JUSTIN HAD HIS DIGITAL CAMERA AND WE ALSO VIDEO TAPED THE SIGNS BEING PUT UP.
I KNOW THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE CRAZY, BUT HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET A ROAD NAMED AFTER SOMEONE AS SPECIAL TO ALL OF US AS JOE WAS.

JOE IS JUST SHAKING HIS HEAD AND SMILING DOWN ON US. I CAN HEAR HIM SAYING, " THIS IS TOO MUCH, YOU ALL SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS."
BUT WE ALL HOPE THAT EVERYTIME ANYONE DRIVES ACROSS THAT ROAD, THEY REMEMBER THAT OUR JOE NEVER CAME BACK HOME TO US ON THAT COLD NOVEMBER DAY.


TS JUST SO AMAZING THAT THIS FINALLY CAME TO PASS.
WE ARE ALL OVERWHELMED ABOUT THE ENTIRE THING.
BUT WE WOULD ALL GLADLY RETURN THE SIGNS AND BURN ALL THE PICTURES IF WE COULD JUST HAVE OUR JOE BACK.
JOE, I HOPE THIS PUTS A ASMILE ON THAT GORGEOUS FACE, AND LETS YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE LOVED MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.
WE LOVE YOU BABE.
EACH ONE OF US. 





THE EVENING NEWS DONE A SHORT STORY ABOUT THE SIGNS BEING PUT UP, AND FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON I JUST HAPPENED TO DECIDE TO SIT DOWN AND WATCH THE NEWS SOMETHING I HAVEN'T DONE FOR QUITE A WHILE.
I WAS TOTALLY SURPRISED TO HEAR IT ON THE NEWS. I HAD CALLED THEM ON THE MORNING WE FOUND OUT THE SIGNS WERE GOING TO BE PUT UP, BUT NO ONE EVER SHOWED UP.
I ONLY WISHED THEY HADN'T USED THE SAME NEWS FOOTAGE FROM BACK IN NOVEMBER. BUT I WILL TAKE WHATEVER I CAN GET.
WE ARE TRYING TO GET MORE SIGNS PUT UP ALONG THAT SECTION OF ROAD, 2 SIGNS FOR 15 MILES ISN'T VERY MUCH AND LETS HOPE WE CAN GET AT LEAST ONE MORE SIGN UP

TODAY IS AUGUST 1,2006
AND IT IS THE DAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS FOR WEST VIRGINIA, PUTS THE OFFICIAL SIGNS UP RENAMING THE ROAD, ON WHICH OUR JOE LOST HIS LIFE.

TO ALL OF US IT CAN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS, WE NEVER THOUGHT IS WOULD COME TO PASS.

BUT TO SOME I GUESS IT WAS JUST NO BIG DEAL. WHEN WE GOT THE NEWS THIS MORNING THAT THE SIGNS WERE GOING TO BE PUT UP. JUSTIN AND I DECIDED TO CALL THE LOCAL NEWS , ( THE SAME ONES WHO WERE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT) AND LET THEM KNOW AND JUST MAYBE THEY WOULD SHOW UP AND GIVE HIM A FEW SECONDS OF GLORY ON THE EVENING NEWS.

WELL THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP, I GUESS IT WASN'T BIG ENOUGH NEWS FOR THEM TO COVER.

WE WOULD HAVE LOVED FOR IT TO BE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER.

SO I AM GOING TO MAKE A SUGGESTION TO THE FAMILY, THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE,,,""JOE KING MEMORIAL HIGHWAY DAY,,,"
EVERY AUGUST 1, FROM NOW ON.

IF NOTHING ELSE BUT TO TAKE A RIDE ALONG THAT ROAD.

WE LOVE YOU JOE, IF ONLY THERE WERE WORDS GREAT ENOUGH TO EXPRESS OUR LOVE TO YOU.

You don't get over it,

you just get through it.

You don't get by it,

because you can't get around it.

It doesn't 'get better';

it just gets different.

Every day... Grief puts on a

new face..

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE I SAW THAT BEAUTIFUL FACE AND HELD YOU IN MY ARMS.
THE DAYS AREN'T GETTING ANY EASIER AND THE NIGHTS, SEEM TO GO ON FOREVER.

THE LEAVES ARE STARTING TO TURN AND THE HUNTING SEASONS ARE JUST BEGINING. I KNOW WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING IF YOU WERE HERE. GETTING HUNTING CLOTHES OUT AND CLEANING YOUR GUNS, GETTING READY FOR A DAY IN THE WOODS.

I MISS SITTING BY YOUR SIDE WATCHING THE LOVELY COLORS ON THE LEAVES.

I LOVE YOU FOREVER
YOU WILL ALWAYS HOLD MY HEART
FORVER LOVING AND MISSING YOU, JOE

Happy Halloween
Hey babe,
This was our first Halloween apart. Nothing really exciting happened, we had a total of 9 trick or treaters.
No little munchins, the ones we enjoyed so much.
I am really glad for that, because it would have been hard seeing the little ones without you here.
I have all this candy left over and you aren't here to eat it up and for my to put it in your lunch everyday til its gone. haha
I know you hated that, I know you probably gave alot of it away to the other guys.
There is still last years candy from halloween in your lunch box.
It's really getting colder now and its getting dark really early, its that time of the year when we could go to bed early enough to get enough rest without the sunshine shining in our eyes.
Oh Babe I miss you so much nothing feels right, nothing I do , nowhere I go, nothing I miss my husband, my friend, my soulmate my partner.
Please hold my heart in your hands and help to mend it someday.
I love You forever and ever.

I remember last year, you sitting in  your recliner shining Justin's boots.
He was so excited to go to the ballgame in his uniform, and was quite surprised that you not only volunteered to shine his boots, but that you put one hell of a shine on them.""only for him to have to push a car out of the mud, and cover his boots in mud.'''

I can still see you shining those boots and the pride that showed on your face.

We were so glad to have him home for the weekend.
Do you remember how we tricked all his friends and surprised Camie.
That was so much fun.
Remember when she came in and went down the hall and we thought she was going to see Justin standing in our bedroom.
We both jumped up and followed her.
She thought that was really strange, but even after all that we still got to surprise her with Justin.

I think the best part was we got him all to ourselves for several hours that day because no one knew he was coming hime but us.

I still have the signs you made and took to the airport "welcoming him home"

Remember when Jeremy showed up and we got him too, and he called Courtney, and she didn't believe him that Justin was home and she had to drive back over here just to see for herself even though Justin talked to her on the phone.

That weekend playing cards with all the kids, was one of the best card nights we had ever had.
The entire gang was here.
Justin got to play with us, not just hear us over the phone like before.
He was the only one that figured you out when you were bluffing.

Loads of laughs were shared that night.


I sure miss those simple times we shared around that table.
The laughs were amazing.

It is so hard to believe that only one week later you would be gone.

If I had only known that the end was that close I would have never let you out of my reach.
The card game would have never ended. The goodnights would have never been spoken.

No sleep would have ever came and I am sure no one would have went to a game, If only we had known, our lives would be torn apart in only a matter of days.

I still can't accept the fact that you are gone from me.
My heart will never mend it has been broken into too many pieces.
You took so many of those broken pieces with you, that only when I am by your side again will my heart be repaired.

I miss you Joe, more that I could ever write or explain.
I know you see the hurt in my heart and pain in my eyes, just hold me in your arms tight and never let me go.

I am sorry that you are seeing me upset like this but just know that I will never stop loving you or missing you as long as GOD allows me to continue on in this empty life you will be in my heart and on my mind forever more.
I LOVE YOU FOR ALL ETERNITY
WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL.

I can't beleive its been a year since  the love of my life, my husband, best friend, lover soulmate for life was taken away all at one time.
I really can't figure out how I have survived this last year, with a heart that is broken into so many pieces.

I put together a memorial service at the graveside to 
CELEBRATE JOE.
We had a very large turnout with lots of friends and family.
I had ordered some balloons with a picture of Joe on them and had came across lights that went inside the balloons.
We inflated as many of the balloons as we could, with helium and tied them to a candle, we waited til dark to have the memorial for the sole purpose of the lights in the balloons glowing and the candles.

We all got into a huge circle around Joe's grave and I thanked everyone for coming and asked if anyone had anything they wanted to say, I asked a friend of ours to say a little prayer for us, Julius, I think I caught him off guard, so the prayer was very short and sweet, but heartfelt.
Then we all released the balloons up to heaven for Joe and every other angel to see.
IT WAS AMAZING!!!!



I had played with the balloons here at home but was not prepared for the most beautiful sight I have seen in quite a while.
But honestly when we all released the balloons, and up into the heavens they went ( most of them)
It was a sight to see.
It made the hair on my neck stand up.
I hope that everyone that was there friends and family got the same thing out of it as I did.
I know Joe was there with us smiling and patting us all on the back for showing up and remembering him in such a great way.
He pulled a few good ones on a few of us. 
There were balloons that didn't hold the helium so they didn't float away, and I know when  Mike released his balloon and it went up but came back to him behind his back, I told him that Joe wanted him to know he was standing behind him.
Mike also told me that he couldn't keep his candle lit.
I think Joe was having a little fun with Mike, because Mike was having a really hard time being there. Not that the rest of us wasn't having a hard time.
Lots of friends and family stayed with us through what seemed to be a very long delay, waiting on someone to go back and get a video camera that a certain someone ( Justin) forgot.
But thats ok, Joe was taking advantage of the delay to walk amongst us all and give us each an angel hug.

After the balloon release, the family and some friends went to the community building and have pizza and what I had planned was a story time celebration, with all of us telling funny stories about Joe and remembering him with laughter.
But that isn't how things worked out.
I had been working for several months on a slideshow presentation with lots of pictures of Joe and little poems for Joe.
What time the slide show is going  and the music is playing,, you could literally hear a pin drop.
The slideshow was amazing, or at least I thought so, and I had seen it a few times.
But some pictures most people had not saw because I didn't share and I tried to have loads of pictures of Joe over all the stages of his lifetime.
The saying that "pictures are worth a thousand words"
isn't quite right, 
" pictures are worth a million memories"
THEY ARE PRICELESS

The storytime just didn't work out, but it was still an amzing evening and Joe was the center of attention and our love for him filled the room.
Maybe sometime down the road we will still have an opportunity to have a story time  but for now I guess Joe wasn't ready for all of us to hear the  wild and crazy things that he has done or said over the short years that he was with us.

Thanks to all who continue to share their love of Joe and help everyday to keep his memory alive.
I love each one of you......



I wish more of Joe's friends would have made it to the memorial to help celebrate Joe,
and I am forever grateful for the ones who came to show support and love.


I wish to thank each one fo them from the bottom of my heart.

and a special thank you goes out to Lisa and Jake Kerr for all of their assistance and understanding during all the prep work.

Thanks so much for helping Justin get his very first buck.
Thanks so much babe for keeping him safe, I was so excited for him when he called and told me the news. I was also sadden to think that you wanted to be with him so bad to see him get his first buck.
You may not have been here physically but I know that you were right there at that tree when that deer came straight at him.

You probably had the best seat in the woods.

Keep him safe on each one of his ventures into the woods this season and all the ones to follow.

He is having it mounted, which is exactly what you would have had done too. It will probably become a new place to hang his shirt for you and one of your hats.


I love you babe.

Hold us close to you and help us through all the hard days we will face alone.

Another Thanksgiving without my Joe.
This day used to mean something to mean, but I can honestly say its just another Thursday for me now.
Last year was my first Thanksgiving without Joe and I just wanted the day to end and be over with. But this year was even worse, with all the other problems going on right now, having to go through another holiday without Joe, I can't even describe it. I really tried very hard today, I cooked a very small dinner for me and the kids, but I think I ruined everything. Added to much of this or not enough of that, it was just a disaster from the start.

I don't see any other holidays being any better. I just don't want to go through them again. The holidays are a atime for family and the biggest part of mine is gone on to a better place. I just can't adjust.

Today was a beautiful day, weather wise. And I know that if Joe were here with me we would have been getting ready for the holiday season, hanging lights and putting out christmas decorations.
If it had not have been for going to the graveside I would have not left the house. I took too many naps to even mention.
This has been a very long day. 
Joe I am sorry that I didn't cook a big dinner like in the past but I miss you so and Justin and Jessica and myself could no way eat that much food, and it was just didn't make any sense to waste all that food.
I miss all your help in the kitchen, I miss letting you sample everything to make sure it was right. I miss feeding you my eggs, which we always laughed about. haha

I hope Justin's comment put a smile on your face the way it did mine. I think he saw I was needing a little pick me up, He knew I was sinking fast and he knew just what to say to make me smile.  Not only did it make me smile because it was something you had said, but also to know that he was thinking about you too.

He is really worried about me babe, just please reassure him that I am ok. 
They forget that the way we used to spend our time was here at home doing nothing, but it was what we WANTED  to do. 
Oh how I miss doing NOTHING with you.
I hope you were smiling down on us at least for a short time today. I know you see our pain and hope that you are helping us as much as you can.
Keep sending us all your love and comfort to help us each day until we are again together.
I love you and miss you beyond measure.

Another day has come and went, and I am left alone again.
I go through the motions of living everyday, but my heart isn't in it, like before.
This entire month has been so hard, I can't even look at your pictures without crying. I was to a point where I could look at each one and remember the fun times we had and the beautiful memories we made. But my broken heart has taken over and I can't see past the pain. 
I long to be in your arms again and to feel you holding me tight. The  loneliness is unbearable. I feel like I am in a bubble and I am watching the world through a window. Its very hard explain. 
I know if there was any way that you could take away just part of the pain I feel I know you would. I could always count on you to make things better, and to hold me when things got hard. I have never had to deal with everything by my self. and I am not doing to well at it. 
I don't know what was going on yesterday, but I couldn't even make it down the hill at the cemetary, I got so sick I had to just leave. I am so sorry I didn' make it down there, but I know, you aren't there, but I still want to come to the graveside, like I have said before its the last place that I left you. I think I feel guilty for leaving you. oh how I wish I could have you home, and things would all be right again.
I read on another site, that another wife had wrote that she was not ""on speaking terms with GOD,""" because she was still mad about losing her husband.
I can honestly see wheres shes coming from, I know I shouldn't be mad at GOD but I am only human and I have to admit I am very upset and confused but I also know that I am not the only one to be upset or mad or confused so I am sure he understands.


I just can't help myself, we were doing so good, and were making so many plans for the future. I feel so cheated!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I see other couples that have had the opportunity to grow old together and all their plans seems to be going fine, I just don't get it. I have to admit I am jealous of all the couples that I see, and it hurts so much to see them kissing and holding hands the way we used to do. 

Joe, babe, I miss you more than any words can describe. I hurt more than any pain I could have ever imagined. 
I hope you are helping me along this lonely road, that I have to travel alone, without my one true love by my side. I am going to need all of your help to make it.

Goodnight my love
Stay by my side and always hold me tight.

I LOVE YOU TIL THE END OF ETERNITY.......

December 16,2006.
We celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary today.
Ok well I did.
To day was a really hard day again. I missed so much getting my roses from Joe today.
Something he always did for me along with a very beautiful card, as always.
We never really done alot on our anniversary, as long as we were together we were fine. 
Sometimes we would go out for dinner, but we both enjoyed staying home and kicking back in front of the tv and spending time together.
I went to the cemetary and took 22 red balloons for you Joe and 2 others too.
I took the 22 roses to the roadside.
It was another beautiful day and I got to spend alot of time there at the gravesite, talking with you.
Do you remember our promises we made many years ago? This would have been the year.
"I know you and you know me."

The days are so long and empty, that sometimes I feel like I am the only person alive.

Today is our day always has been and always will be.
This is the day that we gave our hearts to each other in the face of GOD and one day we will be together again.

Do you remember that day? We were both so nervous,'' WHY '
I don't know.
We had waited a long time and had been thru some tough times but we knew we were meant to be.

You are the one soulmate that GOD made for me and me for you.
I just wish he would have let us have a little more time together.

I guess our reward will come when we will get to spend all of eternity side by side.

Joe, I hope with all that I have, that you know how much I loved you when we were side by side, and continue each and everyday.
I know you hear me all day when I have to stop and look at you, and say ""I LOVE YOU""
the same way I always did. I can still see that little smile that would come across your face, when I would say it at the most unexpected times.

I don't think if you truly love someone that you can tell them too much, how much you love them.
Yes we had our good days and bad days, but we always had our love, that never failed.

I have found alot of great good new friends since our parting and have lost a few "so called" friends along the way too.

But as always we didn't have alot of friends, because we were each others best friend.

Maybe that why I like spending time alone, because I think that is when you are closest to me.
When its again just the 2 of us.

Joe, I gave you my heart and soul many years ago, and it will always be yours and only yours until the day I die.
Some people can't understand the kind of love we share.
It is very special.
I just hope and pray that someday both, Jessica and Justin can find this kind of love and happiness with someone.

They have seen us, and how we love each other so hopefully something we taught and showed them will follow them throughout their lives.

Joe, I hope my tears don't upset you too much. I know if you could make them stop you would. 
Just know that someday I will be ok.
When I take my place by your side, the tears will cease.


I love you with all that I am.
Forever your wife
Judy

I had a beautiful grave blanket made for Joe's gravesite.

I found on one of my many internet searches. Christmas lights that are solar powered.
I put 2 sets of the lights on the grave blanket and a very beautiful acrylic angel I found.

I also found solar powered snow flakes that I put in each vase arrangement.

With all the solar christmas lights, and snowflakes, along with the solar angels, and crosses. 
It was amazing. you could see it long before you got close to the gravesite.

I even found the letters to spell out JOE so I put that together, I tried the solar lights on it but it just didn't work out the way I wanted.


On the tree that I got the cemetary to plant I started putting small acrylic angels on the branches.



I think I have about 8 or 9 on it now.
I call it the ANGEL TREE

I would go out every night after dark just to see it all lit up, and to make sure everything was ok.



The first time I took Lisa, my friend out she was speechless.
It was, if I have to say myself, a truely amazing site.

I hope to improve it every year.

I am not much for putting a christmas tree at the cemetary, but I sure went crazy with everything else. I think Joe would approve.

Now since the holidays are over I have removed the grave blanket and replaced it with a cross, that we have wrapped solar lights on and it is also very pretty at night all glowing.

Another holiday season without my Joe by my side. 
I have always been wild about Christmas, the gift giving , the decorations, all the lights, last  year was my first Christmas without Joe but its just a blur. I just went through the days in a cloud.
The day long events of putting up christmas lights on every possible surface and spending endless hours make sure all the lights worked and were straight, they are a part of history now.

I didn't enjoy the holidays last year the wounds were too fresh and deep. I really thought this year would be better. But they so far have been worse. 
My head is not buried in a cloud as much and the wounds are more painful this year. I guess maybe because reality has set in and I have got to realize that I will never have another christmas morning with my Joe on this earth. 
I will never get to surprise him with gifts that were well thought out or full of love. We will never get to sit for hours wrapping gifts with each other. He isn't here to make me a new christmas music cd like in all the years past. 
I wish there was a place that we could all go during the month of December, where we didn't have to see any christmas decorations or feel the pressures of the times.
We have all gotten so far away from the true meaning of Christmas.
It has by far became too commercial and Jesus is just in the way.

I hope someday I don't know when but someday I hope to spend Christmas day with Jesus and Joe in Heaven.
Until that day comes I will continue to try to imagine what it is like in heaven with Joe and Jesus and all the other angels.

I pray that GOD will continue to allow me to keep Joe's memory alive and for all the comfort that he knows I will need to get through each day.

GOD bless

Christmas Eve 2006
It has come to that time of the year again. I couldn't stop time from moving.

Myself and Justin, and Jessica, and mom, went out to the cemetary tonight.
We filled about 50 white balloons with helium and lights and took them to the cemetary to release up to the heavens for you Joe.

All the lights were white and none of them were blikers.
Well I should say none were supposed to be blinkers.

We had bundled the balloons together in bunches af about 10 lighted ones and about 5  helpers.
So each one of us had a bundle to release.
We all said a silent little something to Joe and released the balloons.
It was a beautiful night the stars were all shining bright, and a winter nip in the air.

Justin released his balloon bundle and we all noticed that one of his balloons lights had started to blink.

It was the brightest light and the only blinker.
Oh what a sight to see the balloons go up, but that one blinker was amazing.
We all stood there and watched the balloons first go one way and then change directions.
The balloons stayed in sight for a very very long time, we eventually lost sight of the bundles, except Justin's one blinker we could see it for a long time after we lost sight of all the others.

I think it was daddy's way of saying that he was with us there in the cold night air, and that he was going to be with us this Christmas eve night.

After we all lost sight of the "Blinker" we all came back here to get warm and exchange a few gifts.
The holiday spirit and Joe had wrapped us all in a warm glow.
We had a few good laughs and a few good tears.
We recalled some good laughs that Joe got at our expense.

We could all see Joe sitting in his chair, shoes still on, arms folded behind his head, hat on upside down, WVU shirt on, and the most amazing smile.

We didn't have to say it but we all knew he was here with us.
Just where he belonged HOME.

Joe I love you and miss you so.
The holidays or any days will never be the same.
My life will never be the same.
But the good times we shared will always be the same, our love will always be the same.
Nothing can change that, no time , no distance, no death.

Our love was a gift from GOD.
A gift from GOD is true and is forever.

I LOVE YOU FOREVER

This is the 2nd year without Joe.
I have to admit this year was worse than last, and the reason I say that is,
I was still so numb last year that I really don't remember alot about the holidays.
This year I put up 2 small trees, one up stairs and 1 down. 
Christmas morning was just Justin and me. Jessica didn't stay the night because of reasons I would rather not discuss.
So the Christmas mornings from the past are no more. 
There will be no more getting up before daylight, no more making everyone wait til Daddy got the camera or video going.
We didn't get up early, we didn't rush to open gifts, we didn't worry about a video camera, we just went through the motions.  (we did take pictures)
Justin got me a "digital picture frame"" wow I was impressed!!
After we opened our few gifts I started cooking dinner. It had to be around noon or after before Jessica came over, after she opened her gifts I finished up dinner. 
Well I have to admit I have never been accused of being a great cook, but we didn't starve over the years. 
But I have to admit this was the worse meal I have ever prepared.
My mom, came over and had dinner with us. We all ate and had a few laughs and several tears, but we made it through the day.

I don't understand how Christmas night can feel like the lonliest night but this year it did for some reason.
I am glad the holidays are over because I just don't enjoy them anymore. 
I miss my Joe so very very much.
I missed him making fun of how the tree looked or how many different wrapping papers were used, or the fact that all the bows that I  painstakingly put on were all falling off. 
I miss it all. I can't think of any part that we didn't enjoy, ok there was one, taking it all down and putting it away.

But we did it together, I had to do it all by my self, no one to help put it up and no one to help take it down.

I guess one day sometime in the future maybe I will enjoy the holidays again.
Until then I can always look back on all the holiday memories that I was fortunate enough to share with Joe.
Good night my love.
I love you,
Merry Christmas Babe.

Here we go again.
Another holiday without you by my side.
New Years Eve 2007
Like all the ones before it was no big celebrations, we just didn't do much for New Years. 
But at least this year I didn't fall asleep. I was actually wide awake.
I was working on this site adding things and just reading and visiting other angels.
Justin was here with me with a girl