Joan Mary Wilson
February 11, 1935 - May 9, 2024
Obituary
Joan Mary Wilson died peacefully on 5/9/2024 at the Caroline Kline Galland Home in Seattle, Washington at the age of 89.
Joan was born February 11, 1935 in Seattle, Washington to Adele Cecile Gaynor and Philip Guy Wilson. A life-long Seattle resident, she graduated from Holy Names Academy in 1953 having been a star athlete in basketball, baseball, and volleyball, and was class president in her junior year. She worked as a typist for the US Army Corps of Engineers to put herself through college at Seattle University, graduating cum laude in 1957, with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. In August 1957, Joan embarked on a distinguished 37-year career with Boeing Airlines during which she received numerous awards and recognition for her work, handling customer relations with over 30 different airlines. She sometimes accompanied a Boeing plane’s first flight to its destination country. Joan had friends across the globe, and developed a life-long passion for travel, always with a camera by her side. She loved the Seattle Seahawks and the Mariners. She was a parishioner of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Renton, Washington.
In 1960, Joanie was involved in a serious car accident that required 14 facial surgeries over the course of several years. Despite this ordeal, Joan always maintained an optimism and zest for life. She was a fiercely independent woman, and lived life on her own terms. To her nieces and nephews, she was their beautiful Aunt Joanie with a radiant smile, a wonderful sense of humor, and a kind heart.
She was predeceased by her mother, father, sister Patricia LaMarre, and brother, Philip Gaynor Wilson. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Jeffrey LaMarre (Terri), Madeleine LaMarre (Nancy), Richard LaMarre, Kathleen LaMarre, Paula Wilson (Paul), Patti Russell, and Maggi Leyburn (Craig), and many grandnieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on June 3, 2024 at 11 am, at Bonney Watson Funeral Home at its SeaTac location in Seattle with interment to follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humane Society. The family would like to thank the staff of the Caroline Kline Galland Home for the wonderful care they provided to Joanie while she was there. We also thank the Kline Galland Hospice team for their tender care of Joanie during her last days.
