Joy Virginia Cawthon
November 14, 1939 - January 13, 2017
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Joy Virginia Cawthon
November 14, 1939 - January 13, 2017
Obituary
Cawthon, Joy ‘Jodi’ Virginia
Joy, or Jodi, as so many fondly remember her by, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on January 13th, 2017. Joy always said Friday the 13th was her lucky day!! She passed away from lung cancer that she BRAVELY fought for a year!
Jodi was born Joy Virginia Scofield on November 14th, 1939 in West Virginia. The only child to Joseph and Ruby Scofield. They moved to Ohio where they lived until she was eleven. They then moved to California where she was a Cali Girl from then on.
Jodi grew up in El Monte and went to El Monte High School. She was in several clubs, Acapella Choir and was a Songleader. She even marched in Disneyland’s opening day parade in 1955 which started a love for Disneyland that she passed on to her children and grandchildren.
As an El Monte Lion Freshman she met a handsome Senior named Don Cawthon. That cute football player captured her heart and that was the beginning of the sweetest love story! After Jodi graduated High School they were married. They were happily married just shy of 60 years!
Don and Jodi had a wonderful life together. They purchased their first home in West Covina, California when their first daughter was six months old. Then along came two more daughters.
In 1971 they moved their family to Laguna Niguel, California close to the beaches they loved so much.
Jodi was a stay at home mother also helping to teach her daughters pre-school classes. She later got very involved in Girl Scouting when she started as her middle daughters Brownie Troop Leader. This would lead to a long term Love of Girl Scouting which led her to many volunteer positions. It was very close to her heart! It even led her to be appointed as a volunteer on The Board Of Directors of The Girl Scout Council Of Orange County. To this day her girl scouts, who are grown women and mothers themselves now, tell stories of how Jodi (or Sunny, her girl scout nickname) touched their lives and helped mold them into the women they are today.
In Girl Scouting she worked closely with United Way Of Orange County which then led her to her next adventure in the working world where she was given the title of Vice President Of Funds And Distribution.
Jodi loved helping people and her position at United Way. She only left there when her father fell ill from cancer and she brought him home to be his main care giver till he passed.
After her father’s passing, the Girl Scouts were soon calling. Jodi returned to GSCOC as Administrative Executive Director. A position she loved and kept until she retired in 2002.
Jodi was always very involved with her daughters and their school activities. Whether it be in athletics, dance or pep squad. And was very much a surrogate mother to many of her daughters friends.
The Cawthon’s also loved camping! Family summers were often spent in Sequoia, Yosemite, Oregon, at the beach and many other beautiful places.
Jodi and Don were also very involved with their High School Reunion Committee and stayed very close friends with so many of their alumni and childhood friends! Those friendships is where ‘The El Monte Trailer Trash’ was born. A group of lifelong friends who would motorhome together several times a year. Something Jodi loved dearly!
Another love apart from the beach where they lived was the mountains of Big Bear, California. Jodi and Don had a Beautiful home there on property that’s been in the family since Jodi was a very young girl. Jodi loved the mountains and was a great skiier. another past time the family loved!
And has for her grandchildren…..They hung the moon and the stars!!
Jodi was so loved by so many. Her smile, laughter, sense of humor and love for life truly encompassed her name perfectly….’JOY’!
Jodi was an AMAZING wife, mother, MiMi and friend! She was an earthbound gift and Heaven truly was Blessed with an Angel when Jodi went home to her Lord and Savior!
Jodi is survived by her loving husband Donald Cawthon, her daughters Cari Allison, Stacy Cawthon and Shawna Hiday, her grandsons Mark Bell II and Kyle Hiday, her grandaughters Taylor Showers and Camryn Hiday, her son in laws Bill Allison and Msgt. Timothy Hiday and she was proceeded home to Heaven by her precious grandson Matthew Gabriel.
A Memorial and Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday July 1st, 2017 at 1:00 pm at O’Connor Mortuary. 25301 Alicia Parkway Laguna Hills, California 92653.
12 responses to Joy Virginia Cawthon
Barbara Callard says:
July 1, 2017
Don,
I am so sorry for your loss. I remember fondly our many conversations at Laguna Beach High School. Jodi was your treasurer as we’ll as a gift to others. I am praying for comfort for you and your family as you share the many wonderful memories. Sincerely, Barbara Callard
John Schick says:
April 14, 2020
I knew Jodi because she was my sister Kay’s good friend in High School. Jodi’s husband Don taught me how to drive. It was an adventure! He was a nice guy. I should inform you that Kay passed away in 2010 in Fort Collins, Colorado while staying with a relative. She had been sick for quite a while. In fact all of my siblings are deceased except myself, and my oldest brother Danny who lives in Oceanside, and is 86 yrs old. I moved to southern Oregon in 2013 after retiring from state service with 27 years in. God bless beautiful Jodi’s memory. My sincerest condolences to Don, and the entire family.
God bless us all,
Regards,