Joyce F. Lakey

Joyce Frances Lakey (Formerly Shanks) 

Joyce Frances Lakey (age 93) passed away on August 1, 2023 in Abington Township,  Pennsylvania. She was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Florence Polak Lakey and Keith E.  Lakey on June 7, 1930. 

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Keith Gilbert Lakey; her children,  Laura Aileen Shanks (1963-1965), William Michael Shanks (1957-2006),  

Paula Gael Shanks (1962-2015); her granddaughter, Laura Marie Shanks (1986-2006); and her  former husband, James William Shanks (1926-2015). 

She is survived by her son, T. Jefferson Shanks (Claire) of Bucks County, PA; her grandchildren:  Leslie Ann Shanks (Bucks County, PA), Michael Shanks (Terre Haute) and Laureal Shanks (Terre  Haute). Also surviving are great granddaughters: Lilyana Marie Shanks (Bucks County, PA) and  

Lorabell Rose Shanks (Bucks County, PA), as well as a nephew, Scott Lakey (Eva) of  Stockholm, Sweden. 

Joyce graduated from Indiana University in 1952, majoring in journalism. She worked for The  Chicago Sun Times before moving to Terre Haute in 1953. Several summers she substituted for  vacationing Terre Haute Tribune reporters and early in her professional career, she freelanced a  number of Sunday features for The Indianapolis Star. She earned her MS degree in counseling  in 1972 at Indiana State University and worked 10 years at Gibault School as a therapist,  helping develop treatment for adolescent male sex offenders under the expert mentorship of  Dr. Michael T. McCrocklin. Joyce authored 17 articles published in professional journals and a  book about her experiences as a therapist treating young sex offenders. 

In 2006, Joyce purchased an 1840’s log cabin originally built in the Goose Pond area south of  Linton, Indiana and donated it to Fowler Park in memory of her deceased family members.  Because there were two Lauras, the cabin, directly behind the Fowler Park Barn, is called “The  Lauras Cabin”. The cabin was rebuilt into the Fowler Park Pioneer Village in 2008, and Joyce  and her daughter, Paula, took great pleasure in sharing its history with visitors and  demonstrating wool hooking, a pioneer skill at which Paula particularly excelled. 

Joyce requested that any memorial contribution be sent to The Village Folk c/o Vigo County  Parks Department, 155 Oak Street, Terre Haute, Indiana, 47807. The Pioneer Village held a  strong place in Joyce’s heart, as she considered it an important treasure to maintain for present  and future generations.  

Arrangements were made under the direction of the Cremation Society of Philadelphia. There  will be no services and her ashes will be scattered at places she designated. Memories of  Joyce can be shared at https://www.cremationsocietyofphiladelphia.com 

Joyce was generous and kind. She was a unique individual who sought every opportunity to  make a positive difference during her journey through life.