Joan Merridith Reed

Joan Merridith Reed August 20, 1934 – March 26th, 2021 Joan Merridith Reed, known as Joanie to her loved ones, died March 26th, 2021, from a ten year long illness of Alzheimer’s disease. Joan was born August 20th, 1934, in Seattle, Washington, to Margaret McKay Merridith (Peg) and William Kenneth Merridith (Ken). Joan grew up in a logging camp called Sappho, near Forks, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula. Joan is survived by her husband of over 40 years, Bob Reed of Shine, Washington and her children Vincent Scott Brown and his wife Monique, Susan Brown Rives and her husband Alexander “Sandy” Rives. Her younger sister Marcia Stalnaker and nephew Aaron and family also survive Joan. Joan’s step children also survive her, Rebekah Christiansen and husband Chip Christiansen, David Reed, and Reed Norman. Joan greatest love was for her grandchildren, V. Samuel Brown, Mackenzie Brown, Danielle Brown, Amelie Rives and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Rives. She is also survived by her brother and sister in law, Ron and Janet Brown and her nieces Alisa and Julie and nephews David and Tim and families. Joan was preceded in death by her parents and first husband, Vince Brown. Joan survived tuberculosis as a teenager and spent two years living in the Sanatorium in West Seattle, during her last years of high school to recover. Her sister Marcia recalls Joan returning home and bringing Marcia her first pair of high heels. She graduated from Forks High School and went on to the University of Washington. Joan always wanted to be a nurse but was advised against it because of her health. She did have a TB recurrence and underwent surgery as a young woman. Joan married her high school sweet heart and became a wife and mother in 1955. When her children were in middle school Joan pursued her dream of becoming a nurse through Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington. She graduated in 1972, and worked for many years as a family practice nurse in Des Moines and Sequim, Washington. Joan remarried Bob Reed in 1979. Joan and Bob wanted to retire to Shine Gri La, Washington, the first bay over the Hood Canal Bridge, where her mother lived on the Hood Canal. Joan’s mother gave them family land and Bob built a home for them from raw land with a beautiful view of the sound. They loved it. Joan loved the bay and her paddleboat. She couldn’t wait to take her grandchildren out for boat rides when they visited. Bob and Joan made amazing flower gardens where Hydrangeas and Dahlias were most abundant. Joan amazingly survived TB, had early breast cancer twice in her 50’s and spent her last ten years enduring Alzheimer’s disease. Joan managed to always have a cheerful disposition and a smile on her face. Even during her last illness she loved to laugh. We all feel very lucky that she was able to stay at home until the last 2 years and 9 months when she moved to be cared for at the Brookdale Montclair Poulsbo Memory Care unit. The family would like to thank the caregivers there who took wonderful care of Joan until the end.