Joy Sedell Bunch Finley, 1933–2024

On April 22, 2024, Joy Sedell Bunch Finley entered heaven the way she lived her life: with courage, dignity and grace.

Joy was born to Willie H. and Mamie Bunch in a little frame farmhouse, on a cold fall day November 2, 1933 in Floyd County, Texas (Lakeview Community). From that day forward, she brought nothing but “joy,” happiness, and sunshine into the lives of everyone around her.

While growing up on the farm, Joy learned how to drive a tractor, hoe cotton and much to her chagrin, how to kill and prepare chickens for dinner! Joy attended the small, multigrade level school in Lakeview, located on land donated by her grandparents. She was very intelligent and skipped two grade levels, graduating from high school when she was just 16 years old. During her elementary school years, her parents purchased Joy a small spinet piano, and she began taking piano lessons. Her reminiscences of recitals and National Guild auditions weren’t always filled with happy moments, but as those of you who know her are aware, these were the beginnings of what would mold and shape the remainder of her life.

After Joy graduated from high school, she moved from Floydada to Denton, Texas, to attend Texas Women’s College, now known as Texas Women’s University, where she majored in English.

During her freshman year, while at home in Floydada during the Thanksgiving break, Joy attended a “Slumber Party.” There just happened to be a group of young men home on leave from the military who decided to crash the party. That’s when Joy met the love of her life and future husband, James C. Finley. The two were married on September 14, 1952 in Floydada at the First Baptist Church.

Joy and James began their married life living in Lubbock, Texas, where Joy worked as an administrator for an accounting firm. Soon, James got the news that Piggly Wiggly was moving him to Muleshoe, Texas. The couple loaded up and headed West to continue their lives. They built their dream home in Muleshoe and soon after it was completed, the Finleys welcomed their first daughter, Kristi. A move to Big Spring, Texas soon followed and their second daughter, Suzanne, was born there. The family’s final move was to Midland, Texas, where their baby daughter, Melanie, was born.

While living in Big Spring, Joy felt the need to contribute to the family’s bank account, so she began teaching piano and music theory lessons in 1957. A passionate piano teacher, Joy made a difference in countless lives teaching, mentoring, and counseling, all culminating into a career that spanned 67 years.

To further her music knowledge and understanding of music theory, Joy went back to school in the 1960s, studying under the direction of Jack Hendrix at Odessa College. Even with three daughters and a husband to care for, Joy practiced daily, studied without fail and made her mark at the college, while keeping her home perfectly cleaned, homecooking every meal, sewing and making her daughter’s clothes, teaching Sunday School, filling the position of church organist at Northside Baptist Church and Crestview Baptist Church for over 40 years, and teaching 30-plus piano students each year. She was very successful and made an impact on the music department at OC.

Dr. Hendrix encouraged Joy to get involved in the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA). Even though she was an integral part of her local association, he felt that she had a lot to offer students and teachers on the state level. In June of 1970, Joy attended her first TMTA convention. Her life was once again molded and shaped by her commitment to TMTA. Joy’s accomplishments and accolades included: TMTA theory committee; theory coordinator; chairman, theory revision committee; editor of state’s first theory glossary. In 1988 she was elected to the TMTA board of directors; she was elected vice president for student affairs, vice president business affairs, president-elect, president, immediate past oresident, and teacher of the year, 1998. She was one of 11 piano teachers chosen nationwide to participate in the Mobil-Cliburn Ambassador Program for the 9th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and she was a member of the board of directors of Texas Coalition for Music Education, MTNA Foundation Fellow. She held every position in the Midland Music Teachers Association throughout the years.

Joy would never want her professional accomplishments to outweigh the fact that she was a bornagain Christian. She began every day in prayer to her Heavenly Father, every night she fell asleep reading her Bible, and every weekend she studied the Sunday School lesson so that she would be knowledgeable enough to lead others to Christ. When asked, when she was 80 years old, why she kept teaching Sunday School even though she was still tirelessly teaching piano students, her response was “If I don’t teach Sunday School, where will I serve?” She would want each of you reading about her life to know that she served her Lord and Savior until she was called Home.

Joy was preceded in the death by her husband, James Finley; parents, Willie H. and Mamie Bunch; and brothers Darrel, Barry Dan and Billy Don.

She is survived by her loving children and their spouses, Kristi and Wendell Law, Suzanne and Dale Lay, Melanie and Blain Huddleston, all of Midland; three grandchildren, Erra Bachman, Midland, James and Michele Law, Pflugerville, Texas and Dustin and Hailey Law, Midland; four great-grandchildren, Cora, Reagan, Eliza and Caleb; and brother Rodney Bunch of Carrollton, Texas; along with numerous nieces and nephews and her beloved furry best friend, Penny.

The family would like to thank Dr. Sapna Chilka, Dr. Anand Cholia, Dr. Pankaj Patel, Angel Care Hospice, and the staff of Midland Memorial Hospital for their tireless care and dedication while taking exceptional care of our mother. We would also like to thank the countless families who chose her to teach your children each week in her piano studio. She was honored to make a difference in each of their lives.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to the Texas Music Teachers Education General Trust Fund. TMTA.org/pages/ giving-give A private family burial was held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 26, 2024 at Lakeview Community Cemetery, located on the family farm.

A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Crestview Baptist Church, located at 301 N Loop 250 W, Midland, TX 79703. Former and current students are encouraged to attend and bring any photos of you with Mrs. Finley to share on the photo table.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.

Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch. com.