Joellen Arnold Grooms

With heavy hearts we share the news of the passing of our beloved mom. Joellen Grooms was peacefully welcomed into her eternal home with the Lord after a courageous battle with brain cancer on Friday, August 28, 2026 surrounded by her husband and children.

Joellen Grooms will be persistently and terribly missed as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, a woman of faith, and one of the people who made our family feel like home.

Joellen loved her family deeply. But above all she loved God with all of her heart. Her faith wasn’t something she simply talked about—it was something she lived. She read her Bible all the way through every year. She gave out Life Savers to people, but she would always remind everyone that the real Life Saver is Jesus Christ. She found ways to share her faith in the little things, and she wanted people to know Jesus too.

She had a way of making every moment feel important, it didn’t matter if it was a huge milestone or something as simple as playing, or helping with school work. She cherished it all. Recitals, sports games, birthdays, births, graduations, weddings—she showed up. She was there for the people she loved, because being there was how she loved us.

Birthday brownies and spaghetti. Every year, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew Mammy would make them. Those may seem like simple things, but those are the traditions we’ll remember. Those are the traditions that become part of a family and stay with us long after someone is gone.

Joellen also never seemed to believe she was too old to have a little fun. She stayed active and involved right up until she absolutely couldn’t anymore, dancing, playing and praising. She didn’t want to sit on the sidelines and simply watch life happen. She wanted to be part of it.

So, thank you for every back rub, every bedtime song, every cinnamon roll, every birthday brownie, every plate of spaghetti, every Wednesday visit, every swim lesson, every Christmas candle, every hug, every prayer, every Bible verse, every game, recital, birthday, wedding, graduation, and ordinary day you chose to show up for. Thank you for loving us so well.

There will be so many moments when I wish I could call you, see you, hug you, or hear your voice again. But I also know that the love you gave us doesn’t disappear just because you’re no longer here. It lives on in your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren, and in every person whose life you touched. And we will see you in every butterfly, flower, and hummingbird.

Thank you for making our lives sweeter, our memories fuller, and our family stronger. Until we meet again, we will carry you with us always.

Joellen leaves behind a loving husband, Don, her soulmate of more than 58 years. 4 children, Deven Young and husband, Eddie of Orange; Dana Sandlin and husband, David of Orange; Daniel and wife, Linda of Pasadena, TX; and Derek and wife, Misti of Orange. 14 grandchildren: Krysten Young, Taylor Young and his wife, Angie; Dyanna Lea and her husband, Joe; Dae Leigh Sandlin; Dalayna and her husband Chris Amadee; Dawson Sandlin, Darian Sandlin, Dara Grooms, Addison Grooms, Braylee Grooms, Ezekiel Grooms, Elijah Grooms, Ryan Grooms and Carlee Grooms. 5 Great grandchildren, Adriane Marino, Gio Marino, Ember Lea, Marik Lea and baby Amedee.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Daniel Grooms, Derek Grooms, Eddie Young, David Sandlin, Dawson Sandlin and Joe Lea.

The Grooms’ family would like to express our appreciation to the congregation of Faith Methodist Church for all of the prayers and assistance they provided to Joellen and her extended family during her illness. The Grooms’ family would also like to thank Southeast Texas Hospice for the loving care and attention they provided.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM, Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 at Faith Methodist Church in Orange, Texas. Officiating will be Pastor Amy Walker. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange, Texas.

Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Methodist Church in Orange, Texas.