Joy Johnston, 70, 1260 Sailer Circle, died Wednesday, Aug. 6, 1997, at Chateau Girardeau Health Care Center.

She was born Nov. 28, 1926, at Sedgewickville, daughter of Theodore J. and Mary Barks Hahs. She and Dr. Kenneth C. Johnston were married Sept. 1, 1948, in Cape Girardeau. He died Nov. 18, 1995.

Johnston received a bachelor of science degree in home economics from Southeast Missouri State University in 1947. She was also named Sagamore Queen that year.

She taught home economics a year in Festus, and then taught two years in Connecticut.

After her husband graduated from Yale Divinity School they returned to Missouri for their first pastorate in California. They also served churches in Neosho, Joplin, Kansas City, and Webster Groves.

Since retiring in 1990 she has given time to the Epworth Children's Homes in Webster Groves and East Prairie. She has been involved in Church Women United since she was in high school, and has been active in the organization wherever they have lived. In 1983 she was named Valiant Woman of the St. Louis Metropolitan Unit.

Johnston has held many offices in United Methodist Women on local and conference levels. She is editor of "Cooking with Joy," which has gone through three printings. In 1987 she received the Outstanding Alumnus award from the Department of Home Economics at Southeast University in recognition of exceptional, personal and professional achievement.

She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church and PEO Chapter LY.

Survivors include a son, Donald Johnston of St. Charles; a daughter, Suzanna Hunt of Cape Girardeau; a brother, Luther Hahs of Cape Girardeau; three sisters, Hazel Bushard of Canton, Ill., Gladys Deye of Winona, Minn., Mae Kolb of Minneapolis, Minn.; and four grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother and three sisters.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4-8 p.m. Friday.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Centenary Church, with the Rev. Neil Stein officiating. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery.