Joan Bruce Yokley Malmo

Joan Bruce Yokley Malmo died peacefully at her home July 15, 2010, after many years of declining health.

She was born January 21, 1932, in Mount Airy, the third daughter of John Bruce and Dorothy Polk Yates Yokley.

She attended Rockford Street School and the old Mount Airy High School on Main Street. In 1950 she graduated from the Holton Arms School in Washington, DC. She graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, in 1952. She was presented at the 1951 Terpsichorean Ball in Raleigh.

On August 2, 1952, she married Gerald Michael Malmo, Jr. She was a homemaker all of her married life and she was a co-owner of the Bent Twig Consignment Shop for a short time.

She was devoted to her family, her church and her community as evident in her many involvements. She was a past member of the Surry County chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a member of the Mount Airy Junior Women's Club and State Stamps Chairman. She was a founding member of the Women's Hospital Auxiliary at Northern Hospital of Surry County and the United Fund of Mount Airy and served on the original board of the Handicapped Children's Center. She was a member of the Modern Gardeners and Garden Gate clubs. Her dedication to children was shown as she served as a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Brownie and Senior Girl Scout Leader, a PTA member at Jones Elementary, Mount Airy Junior High and Mount Airy Senior High Schools, where she was also a substitute teacher for many years. She was a member of the Senior Mount Airy Arts and Crafts Guild.

She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church since the early 1950's where she was a past Sunday school superintendent and teacher. She was also an Altar Guild member and former directress. While serving as directress, she wrote the only Altar Guild manual for the church. Mrs. Malmo was also a Stephen Minister.

Mrs. Malmo was a devoted daughter, sister, wife and mother. She dearly loved her family and she was always happiest when in her kitchen cooking for her family and friends. Her heart worked through her hands while making the many hand crafts for her loved ones. Countless brides were honored and numerous salesmen and customers of the Mount Airy Furniture Company were entertained in her home. She also cherished spending time with classmates of Mount Airy High School Class of 1950 and planning their reunions. As a lifelong resident of Mount Airy, Mrs. Malmo was a wealth of knowledge on the history of this community of which she was so proud.

She was predeceased by her husband, Gerald Michael Malmo, Jr., her parents, and her sisters Marjorie Yates Yokley and Dorothy Polk Yokley Nicholls. Her twin sister, Jo Ann Yokley Thomas, preceded her in death on June 28, 2010.

She is survived by her son, Gerald Michael Malmo, III and wife Debbie of Winston-Salem, daughter Sallie Lee Malmo Carr and husband Gene of Hendersonville, and daughter Joan Bruce Malmo Howard and husband Scott of Asheboro. She was affectionately known as "Boo" by her seven grandchildren - Dorothy Adeline Carr, Carter Madison Malmo, Sarah Emily Carr, Andrew Scott Howard, Jr., Michael Wesley Howard, Turner Marshall Malmo and John Schuber Carr. In addition to her immediate family, she is survived by her sister-in-law Patricia Malmo Gabrieleschi, and brothers-in-law Donald Anthony Malmo and John Richard Malmo all of Memphis, Tennessee, and many nieces and nephews.

Joan Bruce Yokley Malmo taught us all so many valuable behaviors, but most especially she taught us to be a family, take care of each other and love one another.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 18, 2010, at 3:00 PM at Trinity Episcopal Church, Main Street, with the Reverends Ray Hanna and Todd Byrd officiating. Interment will follow in the Yokley family plot at Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church Altar Guild Fund, P.O. Box 1043, Mount Airy, NC 27030 and Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030.