Joan Williams completed her life journey on March 27, 2021 at the age of 89. She is at peace and has once again joined her husband Jay after 25 years apart.
Joan was born in Portland, Oregon in 1932. A resident of Washington since 1968, she is lovingly remembered for her joyous laugh, uplifting spirit, and caring manner. Joan attended grade school in Cedar Mill and high school in Beaverton, OR. Her favorite subjects were math and history, and she was a lifelong reader of nonfiction books and avid follower of the news. Joan also loved supporting her favorite football team, the Seahawks.
A dependable, intelligent, and sharp woman, Joan worked at Wilcox Maternity Hospital in Portland, Pacific NW Bell in Portland, and H&R Block in Mount Vernon, WA. Joan also shared her wonderful spirit and care through volunteer work in her community, serving as a sewing and cooking leader for 4H; as Mother Advisor for the Mount Vernon Rainbow Girls; and as President, grief facilitator, and board member for Skagit Widowed Support Services. Joan was also a member of Eastern Star in Mount Vernon, and of the Hillsboro, OR Grange.
Joan married the love of her life, Jay Williams in 1959. They spent 37 years together fishing, camping, working, bowling, playing bridge, enjoying time with family and friends, and always having fun. Family fondly remembers summer visits during their annual cross-country trip during retirement, and Joan always brought laughter, light, and warmth to everyone she saw. Always an advocate for others and a steady support for anyone who needed it, Joan expressed her wish to have any contributions made to Skagit Hospice or Seattle Children’s Hospital. Joan did not wish to have a memorial. Her family will gather together privately to celebrate her life. Joan set an inspiring example to follow, and she will be dearly missed. A giving, hardworking, honest, loving, nonjudgmental, spirited, and lively woman, she gave to others without expecting anything in return. She told us not to grieve too long, to know that she had a great life and left this world to spend eternity with her loving husband of 37 years.
Joan is survived by her daughters, Luella Parker (Randy) and Jocille O’Hara (Scott Malcolm); sister, Sally Marie Sperling; grandchildren, Angie Woodmanssee (Tugba Polatcan), Aaron (Nicci) Woodmansee, Donovan O’Hara (Jessica Salinas), Stacy Williams King (Nate King) and JD Williams (Dusty); great-grandchildren, Avey, Michel O’Hara, Ashur, Ebin, and Lucien, Hudson and Adam; niece, Debbie Hurford (Denis); nephew, Gary Sperling (Diane) and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews; special friends Margaret Witzig, Donna and Jim Derry, and Norma Pennel.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, John Andrew Petersen and Ethyl Lenore Phelps; husband, Jay Leroy Williams; brothers-in-law Norm and Frank; sisters-in-law, Verrean, Zelda, and Thelma; daughter, Corinne Davis.
Share your memories of Joan and sign the online guest register.
