Illene Marie (Lyda) Davalt Joseph, 91, passed away on Oct. 29 in Clovis.

She was born in February 1919 in Elk City, Okla. to parents Clara (Nagle) and Estal H. Lyda. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Turlock until she moved to Clovis with her son and daughter-in-law. She regularly attended Valley Bible Church of Clovis and counted it her second church family.

Ilene was a bookkeeper and switch board operator for McCullough Chevrolet in Hayward for 18 years before moving to Turlock, where she opened her own business of billing for anesthesiologists. She retired when she was 80 years old.

Ilene seemed never to meet a stranger and always greeted everyone with a big hug and a bigger smile. She loved her bowling until the age of 75 and selling antique dishes at flea markets with her daughter-in-law, Lynda Davalt for many, many years. She was also a believer of keeping the hands busy, so there was always a quilt top in the making or an afghan being crocheted for all her loved ones in her family.

She lived life to the fullest, enjoying every minute of laughing, enjoying and celebrating, cooking for the holidays or just a big house full, and of course, the wonderful family picnics.

We will miss our Nana here, but know the joy she is experiencing with her beloved Virgil again, her grandmother who raised her, and a mom she never had a chance to get to know will all take part now in the house of our Lord.

Ilene is survived by two children, Robert Devalt and wife, Lynda, of Clovis and Anna Grow and husband, Larry, of Bogalusa, La.; step-daughter, Dola Owens of Fairfield; 14 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; 17 great great grandchildren; and one great great great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Virgil Joseph; sisters, Margaret Mouser and Roberta Lareau; step-daughter, Janice Collins; and grandson, James Davalt.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3 at Lakewood Memorial Park.

Remembrances can be made on her behalf to Teen Challenge Faith Home Ranch, P.O. Box 611, Turlock, CA 95381.