Joey Feek Funeral Update: Bill Gaither To Host Public Service Memorial, Rory Feek And Family To Attend

It’s been nearly a week since Joey Feek lost her battle with terminal cancer, and now her life-long friend Bill Gaither is planning a public memorial service to honor the late country music singer.

As the Inquisitr previously reported, Joey Feek was diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer in May 2014, three months after giving birth to her daughter Indiana. She later underwent a radical hysterectomy and several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, and was pronounced cancer free. However, as she was preparing to undergo her last round of chemo in October 2015, Joey’s doctors made a heartbreaking discovery — Joey’s cancer had returned and was spreading aggressively throughout her body.

Joey Feek’s doctors told her there was nothing left for them to do, and she was now considered terminal. Although she could continue to undergo chemo and radiation, it would only buy her time and she would end up spending the remainder of her life in the hospital. Determined to live what days she had left with her family, Joey made the decision to stop treatment and enter hospice care. Joey, her husband Rory, and their daughter Indy returned to Joey’s hometown of Alexandria, Indiana, where they lived until Joey passed away on Friday, March 4.

On Saturday, Rory Feek returned to his home in Tennessee with little Indiana to make the plans he said he had “hoped we would never have to make.” Before Joey died, she told Rory she wanted to be buried in a “rough-cut wooden box” built by their farmhand Thomas, and she wanted to be laid to rest in the family cemetery behind their home. Because that is what Joey wanted, Rory is making sure it is done.

“A rough-cut wooden box with a cross on it was placed beneath the bay of the bus and brought up here because that’s what Joey wants. ‘Thomas to make my box… simple, from wood at the farm,’ she said. ‘And find a good spot in the family cemetery in the field behind our house, where we put your mama’s ashes last year… with room enough beside my headstone for you to join me someday… in God’s time.'”

Rory had been documenting Joey’s cancer battle on his blog This Life I Live. On Friday, he shared an emotional post revealing that Joey’s dream had come true… she was now in heaven.

“My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven.

“The cancer is gone, the pain has ceased and all her tears are dry. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her savior.”

On Tuesday, Bill Gaither, who has been a friend and a mentor of the Feeks for years, announced that he would be having a public service memorial in Joey’s hometown.

“A public memorial service remembering Joey Martin Feek will be held on Sunday, March 13 at 2:30 p.m. in the Alexandria-Monroe High School gymnasium,” the announcement reads. “Bill and Gloria Gaither will host the service, along with Rev. Jerry Young and Mike Owens. Rory Feek, his daughters and members of the Martin family will be in attendance, and are exceedingly grateful for this community’s outpouring of support throughout Joey’s life and most recently during her illness.”

“Joey was one of a kind,” Gaither said. “We all will miss that sweet, transparent spirit.”

Rory announced that Joey’s funeral will be private, and then she will be buried in the family cemetery just like she wanted. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Joey and Indy at PO Box 5471 Vancouver, WA 98668.

[Photo by Kevin Winter/ Getty Images]