Joy is the daughter of Walter C. and Mary (Gray) McCahan and during her youth, lived on Milford Street in Port Royal. After her graduation from Susquehanna University, she married William “Bud” Sheaffer and for many years lived in Groninger Valley. After 35 years of teaching music in the Juniata County School District, she built a new house at 508 9th Street. Joy is an active member of the Port Royal Lutheran Church and a variety of community organizations. Bud and Joy have two children, Dr. Molly S. Kinney and Adam Sheaffer.
OBITUARY for JOY M. SHEAFFER
Joy M. Sheaffer, 95, of Port Royal, peacefully passed away on Friday, March 7, 2025 at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital with her family by her side.
Born Oct. 10, 1929 in Port Royal, she was a the daughter of the late Walter C. and Mary (Gray) McCahan.
On Dec. 27, 1952, she married William “Bud” Sheaffer at the Port Royal Lutheran Church. He died on Dec. 15, 1972.
She is survived by one daughter, Dr. Molly S. Kinney, one son, Adam Sheaffer and wife, Barbara, and three grandchildren, Joseph Sheaffer and wife, Lex, Jesse Sheaffer, and Kelsey Sheaffer, who all loved MaJoy dearly.
Also preceding her in death were two brothers, Charles “Sonny” McCahan and Walter Keith McCahan.
Joy graduated from Tuscarora Valley High School in 1947 and from Susquehanna University in 1951. She taught music in the east end of the Juniata County School District for almost 40 years.
She was a member of the Port Royal Lutheran Church where she was active with the choir, WELCA, as the church mouse, and she spent many years helping to organize and provide decorations for the community teas. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, General Thomas Mifflin Chapter of the DAR, the Port Royal Book Club, and the Juniata County Retired School Employees Association. She served as the harness horse racing secretary at various Pennsylvania fairs for many years.
She enjoyed reading, watching football, attending concerts and plays, papercrafting, creating and sending beautiful greeting cards and drinking tea steeped in a teapot from her collection.
There will be a visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 13 at the Port Royal Lutheran Church with a Celebration of Life service at 11 a.m. at the church with Rev. Allen Hulslander officiating. Interment will be in Old Church Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a memorial contribution to the Juniata County Library, 498 Jefferson Street, Mifflintown, PA 17059.
Guss Funeral Home, Inc., 20 S. Third St., Mifflintown, is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.gussfh.com.
Contributed by mkinney on 9/6/10 - Image Year: 1947
Tuscarora Valley High School Graduation Photo - Class of 1947.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/4/11 - Image Year: 1992
JOY (MCCAHAN) SHEAFFER with son and daughter-in-law ADAM and BARBARA (PAGE) SHEAFFER in photo taken at the Port Royal Lutheran Church in 1992.
Contributed by mkinney on 9/12/10 - Image Year: 2009
'MaJoy' with grandchildren, Joseph, Jesse, and Kelsey Sheaffer on her 80th birthday.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 12/24/10 - Image Year: 1937
COUSINS PLAYING IN THE FAIRGROUNDS: (from left) Earl Kepner, Ralph Kepner, Charles McCahan, Mary McCahan, Penn Shelley, Joy McCahan, Keith McCahan, Laentena Shelley
Contributed by rkohler3 on 2/24/13 - Image Year: 1940
Jane Book discovered a large snake on the property of Albert Sarver on Milford St. and called her brother, Walter McCahan to the scene with his shot gun. With two shots he succeeded in killing the reptile. This snake measured more than 8 feet in length and had escaped from a carnival show recently at the fair.
Joy McCahan is tallest person on the right.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 12/15/10 - Image Year: 1978
PR LUTHERAN CHOIR 1978: (Front Row l-r) Betty Cunningham, Mildred Bashore, Judy Suder (wife of minister), Tammy Fike; (Second Row l-r) Roberta Griebel, Rebecca Griebel, Joy Sheaffer, Gayle Cisney, Jane Kohler; (Third Row l-r) Kevin Reynolds, William Stimmel, Brian Miller; (Organist) Jane Stimmel.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/7/11 - Image Year: 1947
SENIOR CLASS OF TVHS 1947 First Row: (L-R) Pauline McClure, Evelyn Cargill, Joy McCahan, Donna Eaton, Irene Wagner; Second Row: Betty Leister, Kathryn Meminger, Betty Paige, Emma Isenberg; Third Row: Charles Snyder, Raymond Dunn, Donald Stitt, Robert Booher, Ben Groninger; Fourth Row: Mr. Park Gerhart (Teacher) Donald Graham, Clinton Bashore, Robert Naylor, William Lyter, Marvin Towsey.
