Joanne W. Allen

Joanne Whitehall Allen passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on January 16 at Central Washington Hospital. She left this life after a brief illness just as she lived life, on her own terms. She fought gallantly to hang on to life, mostly for the sake of her family. She finally gave into the Will of Jesus to bring her Home. Joanne was born on the Hill farm in Burdett, Missouri on August 9, 1930 to George W. and Hallie (Chapman) Hill. She was the youngest of three children. The family moved to Waterville in 1937 following other family friends from Missouri to pursue opportunities in this area. She received her early education at the McNeil Country School near Adrian, Missouri. Joanne started second grade in Waterville; she was a high school cheerleader during her freshman year. She graduated from high school in Waterville in 1948, after which she attended Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. Joanne returned home before finishing her first year of college to marry the love of her life, Larry Whitehall, on December 18, 1949 establishing their home in Waterville. They were blessed by the birth of their sons; Kevin in 1950 and Lanse in 1952. Larry and Joanne owned and operated the Waterville Cleaners from 1953 through 1974. Joanne became the Librarian in Waterville in 1975, a position she loved. She furthered her career with the North Central Regional Library moving up the ladder to the regional distribution of books to libraries throughout the area until her retirement. Joanne and Larry enjoyed retirement until his passing in 1999. On December 29, 2002 Joanne married Stanley Allen, at which time she moved to his home in Parkland, WA. Stanley and Joanne later moved to the retirement community of Narrows Glen in Tacoma, WA where she resided until her health precipitated her return to Wenatchee in December, 2017. While at Narrows Glen Joanne was the President of the Resident's Association for five years. One of her responsibilities was fundraising for staff bonuses, at which she was extremely successful. Joanne loved her family, friends, and her communities dearly. It was true to her nature to be as involved as possible. She and Larry loved camping as a family and spent as much time as possible with close friends and their families. She was the Den Mother for her sons' Cub Scout group. Larry and Joanne were long-time members of the Waterville Wranglers and were early members of the Badger Mountain Ski Club. Joanne was a 63-year member of the Order of Eastern Star (Worthy Matron in 1966); she was a member of Waterville Federated Church, having been an active member of the Guild and served on the Board of Elders. Joanne was gifted in flower arranging and donated her talents to her Church regularly decorating the Church for various functions. She also taught Sunday School for many years. Joanne was a 50-year member of the P.E.O. sisterhood having been a member of Chapter "Z" in Waterville where she served as President between 1995 and 1996. She also served as a Trustee for the Douglas County Historical Society. Joanne was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Larry; sister, Helen Witten; brother, George W. "Doc" Hill; nephew, Ron Witten; and grandson, John Christopher Whitehall. She is survived by her husband, Stanley Allen; sons Kevin (Ann) and Lanse (Paulette); grandsons, Derek (Latifa Coley) and Jeff (Sarah); granddaughters Angie (Miles) Deishl and Jillian (Nicholas) Loebsack, who are expecting Joanne's next great grandchild in June; great grandchildren Lexi Deishl, Nathaniel, Rachel, Gracie, Drew, Luella, and Charlie Rose Whitehall, Allen Mitchell, Finian Allen, and Keelan Allen; nephew Don Witten, his two daughters and their children; nieces Eileen (Jim) Bone and Judy Dalton, and Judy's two daughters and grandchildren; niece Sandy Jewett Silva and her son; niece Marie (Jess) Evans and their two daughters and grandchildren; niece Betty Whitehall and her three children and grandchildren; niece Joyce (Wayne) Wright and their son and daughter and grandchildren. Also surviving Joanne are her step-children, Cami Allen, Cris Mitchell, and Cory (Alix Koehler) Allen as well as many cousins in the area. Additional survivors are lifelong special friends Alice Ruud, Joanne "Fletch" Nelson, Shan Warner, Esther Buse Cox, Carol Witten Poirier, and Tony Long. Her service is scheduled for March 16 at the Waterville Federated Church at 2:00 p.m. Arrangements are entrusted to Waterville Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Badger Mountain Ski Club, Waterville Swimming Pool, Waterville Ambulance, or a memorial of your choice

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Joanne W. Allen

August 9, 1930 - February 16, 2018