Joey Feek, who entered into the arms of Jesus earlier this month after a lengthy battle with cervical cancer, was laid to rest on Tuesday, March 8. In a heartbreaking blog post penned shortly thereafter, her husband, Rory Feek, shared some precious moments from the funeral.
"In a grove of sassafras trees behind our farmhouse, with friends and family gathered around, we said goodbye to the greatest person I have ever known," Rory, 50, wrote on his blog, This Life I Live.
The Feeks, known as country duo Joey + Rory, married in 2002 and have a 2-year-old daughter together, Indiana. The couple's final album, Hymns That Are Important to Us, debuted at No. 1 on both the Top Country Albums chart and Top Christian Albums chart upon its release.
"The service started in our barn/concert hall," Rory wrote. "The last time we were on that stage, was in early October and Joey and I were singing together. But now, a photograph of Joey was in the spotlight... and I was one of many who were there to honor her."
To celebrate Joey's life, a close family friend had made a video set to Iris DeMent's "After You're Gone," which was shown at the funeral and shared on Rory's blog.
"Joey's one hope was that she could 'come home' on a beautiful day... and oh, it was. The daffodils were blooming, the grass was green and sky was bright blue," Feek said.
Feek also published a series of personal photos from the day, including many featuring the couple's daughter, who was born with Down's Syndrome. In one particularly touching photo, the little girl is shown perched atop her father's shoulders as he stands in a sprawling field.
"And when most of the guests had gone and the sun was starting to fade, Indy and I took the short walk together into the back field to see her mama one more time," he wrote, "And we stayed awhile and talked with her. And then we took a deep breath and did what Joey would want us to do. We remembered that she's still with us. She'll always be with us. In our hearts. Forever."
On Sunday, hundreds gathered at the Alexandria-Monroe High School gymnasium in Alexandria, Indiana - Joey's hometown - to pay their respects to the late singer.
People Magazine notes that the memorial included sing-alongs of Joey's favorite songs, including "Lean On Me," and an appearance from Rory and Indiana, who received a standing ovation when they appeared in the gymnasium.
Rory first broke the news of his wife's passing in an emotional post to his blog on March 4, writing that his wife is in heaven.
"Though this is, and has been, a time of many tears of sorrow, it has also been a time of countless tears of joy," Rory said of Joey's final months.
"There have been too many beautiful moments to count or even begin to share ... But I try."
