Joey was born on August 28‚ 1951‚ in Charleston‚ West Virginia. He grew up with his parents‚ Joseph and Betty Jo‚ and his siblings‚ Arietta‚ Diana‚ Bethel‚ and Linnie Curley.

Joey was blessed to have three children‚ Edna‚ Joey III‚ and LeAnne. Joey’s beloved only son passed away at age 12 in 1988‚ which was very devastating to him. Joey later met his longtime companion‚ Sonja Kay‚ and helped raise her son‚ Anthony. Joey loved to travel to Florida on his motorcycle to visit his daughter and spend time with his granddaughters‚ Amanda and Skyler. Joey loved to ride and was a member of the Patriot Guard and The Red Knights Motorcycle Clubs.

Joey spent many years working at Copley’s Wrecker Service. He later worked for the City of Charleston Sanitary Board as a mechanic‚ before retiring for health reasons. Joey was always there for someone in need. People have said he was the nicest guy they knew and could never be replaced. One man stated at his memorial service that Joey was a First Responder before there was such a thing‚ the man you wanted at an accident scene.

Joey served as a volunteer firefighter for seven years. One of his sisters asked Chief Jeff Snodgrass how Joey got started at the fire department. The chief said Joey joined the fire department not for himself‚ but for Anthony. He came and asked if he and Anthony could join. He felt that Anthony was maybe hanging around the wrong crowd and wanted to get him into something more positive. I don’t think Joey had any idea how much it would affect his life! In the early days he was there to see that Anthony went in the right direction‚ but he soon realized that he had a knack for what the fire department does–helping people! He became not only a firefighter‚ but a great friend to many members of the department. He saw that he could use his mechanical skills to benefit the fire department by caring for the equipment. Most people will never realize how valuable an asset Joey was to our department. He was our friend‚ our brother‚ our mentor‚ and many looked to him for personal advice to help them to get through life. He was a great man‚ and we miss him every day.

Joey loved to tease and play practical jokes on others. He enjoyed taking his nieces’ sons and granddaughters to his garage‚ sitting them on his motorcycle‚ or taking them to the firehouse and putting them in the fire truck.

On December 4‚ 2011‚ we lost a lifelong companion‚ father‚ uncle‚ grandpa‚ brother‚ friend‚ and firefighter‚ but most of all A GIFT OF LIFE. We love and miss you.