Melba JoAnn Zimmerman Day

Melba JoAnn Zimmerman Day, known affectionately as JoAnn, passed away on May 6, 2026, leaving a legacy of laughter, music, faith, and a life devoted to family and experiences. Born on March 24, 1940, in Protection, Kansas, she arrived on Easter Sunday and narrowly missed being named for the holiday, which would have made for an especially memorable combination with her later married name. She was the daughter of Elmer and Erma June (Troyer) Zimmerman.

On May 9, 1964, JoAnn married the love of her life, Billy Joe “Bill” Day. Together they made their home in Amarillo, Texas, where they owned and operated Bill Day’s Flowerland and raised two beautiful and talented daughters, Camille Renee Day Nies (husband Andy) and Melissa Joy Day. JoAnn’s joy was further multiplied by her three grandchildren, Mackenzie Day Nies, William Andrew Nies, and Mason Patrick Hathcock, who continue the family’s deep involvement in education, music, and the arts.

In addition to assisting Bill with the flower shop, JoAnn dedicated her professional life to the classroom, serving as an elementary school teacher where she primarily taught social studies and language arts. She inspired generations of students with her creativity, warmth, and high expectations—despite the well-known family joke that she “couldn’t spell to save her life.” She and her long-time friend and colleague Jean—fondly known together as “Tweedledum and Tweedledee”—were legendary for their good-natured antics at school (often to the consternation of their administrators) and in their personal lives. Beneath the mischief, though, everyone knew the truth: if JoAnn was in your corner, she was truly there for you, even if she had a few “choice words” about it along the way.

JoAnn’s faith was a steady anchor throughout her life, most often expressed through her strong, joyful singing of hymns. Her love of singing—especially loud singing—was one of her most memorable traits. Family members recall being able to find her in the grocery store simply by following the sound of her voice. Whether in church, at home, or in the car, JoAnn’s songs were an expression of joy, conviction, and living life.

She was known for her love of laughing, especially when paired with a glass of wine, and her deep friendships. JoAnn was also famously “put together”—stylish, polished, and never without a touch of flair—even though her hair would always be the bane of her existence. Bill delighted in spoiling her, especially with jewelry and clothing. Family lore still fondly recalls the “fur coat dance” of Christmas in the early 1980s, when JoAnn’s delight and “flashdancing” feet in her new coat became an instant classic memory.

JoAnn and Bill loved to travel and were always ready for an adventure, especially when it involved family. Whether it was a concert, dinner out, a trip, or simply a long car ride with good conversation and good music, JoAnn remained “ready to go” until the very end. Her presence brought energy, laughter, and a sense that life was meant to be fully lived.

JoAnn was a vital part of a large and vibrant family, quick with a reminder of her position as the youngest of nine, and was dragged as a child to biannual Troyer family reunions that the third and fourth generations continue to this day.

JoAnn is survived by her daughters, son-in-law, and grandchildren; sibling Myron J. “Mike” Zimmerman and wife Louise; and sister-in-law Nancy Zimmerman. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill; her parents; and her siblings Elsie Audene Gunden and husband Donald, James Elvin Zimmerman, Mary “Lois” Lauffer and husband Charles, Earl Wayne “Doc” Zimmerman and wife Helen, Norma Ruth Conrad and husband Rodger, Ruby June Stotts and husband William, and Alfred Ernest Zimmerman.

Those who knew JoAnn will remember her as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother; a loyal sister and friend; a teacher who made a difference; a woman of faith whose hymns filled every space she entered; and a joyful, loud singer of life’s song. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished, the students she inspired, and the many lives brightened by her humor, her good heart, and her unwavering presence.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 PM, Sunday, May 10, 2026 in Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd.