Joey Feek Funeral Update: Joey Laid To Rest In Private Ceremony, ‘It Was Tearful, But It Was Optimistic’ Says Bill Gaither

Joey Feek has finally been laid to rest at her family farm in Tennessee.

According to People Magazine, Rory Feek, Joey’s husband, was surrounded by their closest family members, friends, and neighbors at their Pottsville, Tennessee, farm as they said their final goodbyes to the country music singer, who fought a brave battle with terminal cancer.

One of the many people that attended the private ceremony was Joey and Rory’s longtime friend and mentor Bill Gaither, who is hosting a public service memorial for Joey on Sunday.

“It was tearful, but it was optimistic, especially being on the dirt,” Gaither told the magazine. “She was part of the earth. We all felt as though we were close to her.”

According to Gaither, Joey’s casket was brought to the funeral on a horse-drawn carriage, and before Joey was buried, Rory spoke about his wife of 15 years.

“Singers were performing ‘Let’s Go Down to the River to Pray,'” Gaither added. “It was just a sweet Tennessee mountain moment. Very positive things were said at the gravesite.”

According to a previous report by the Inquisitr, Joey Feek was diagnosed with 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 very quickly and aggressively throughout her body.

Joey Feek’s doctors told her there was nothing left for them to do, and she was now considered terminal. 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.

Rory shared the heartbreaking news on his blog This Life I Live, which he has used to document her battle from the beginning.

“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.”

Although Rory is heartbroken over the death of his wife, he is determined to remain strong for their 2-year-old daughter Indiana. Gaither said Rory is already trying to get back to some normalcy, and enrolled Indy in school earlier this week.

“I talked to him last night about the service, and I said, ‘First, Rory – how are you doing?’ and he said, ‘Well, I took Indiana to the school this morning to enroll her.'”

“He said, ‘This is the first day of the rest of my life. I have responsibilities.’ I think that’s pretty special. [He’s thinking], ‘What is the next step?'”

Bill Gaither and his wife Gloria will be hosting a public service memorial in honor of Joey Feek on Sunday, March 13, 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 read. “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.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Joey and Indy at PO Box 5471 Vancouver, WA 98668