Joanne's Obituary

 Joanne Cleland

November 25, 1933 – March 31, 2022

 

Joanne Cleland was born to Charles James
and Mary Elizabeth McConaughy in San Francisco, California.  Joanne grew up in the Richmond District of San Francisco, just eight blocks from Ocean Beach, where it is often cold and foggy, even in the summer.  She attended George Washington High School and then San Francisco State University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in education.   Joanne then began her teaching career in the Oakland public schools.  On St. Patrick’s Day 1956 she met her husband-to-be Frank Cleland at a “Lonesome Polecat” dance, where bringing a date was not required.   Frank, who was not there for the dancing, and Joanne immediately hit it off and were married in August of that year.  The couple lived in Oakland, where Joanne continued teaching and Frank worked in research for Shell in Emeryville.  They spent weekends and vacations hiking and camping in Yosemite and sailing on Lake Merritt.  Their son Todd was born 1961 and daughter Anne arrived in 1963.   

 

In 1967 Frank’s job took them to Darien, Connecticut, within commuting distance of Manhattan for Frank.   In Darien Joanne taught homebound students and enjoyed boating with Frank and the kids on Long Island Sound.  In 1970 the family moved again, this time to Houston, Texas.   Here Joanne taught half-day kindergarten to make time for both her career and her family.  She enjoyed boating near Galveston, camping trips and spending time with the extended family in the Houston area.   In 1988 Joanne and Frank both retired and began thinking about where they wanted to live next.  They bought a new trailer and scouted a number of potential locations in the Western US, before deciding on Bend, Oregon.    They moved to Bend in 1990, where they built a lovely home atop Awbrey Butte with a view of the Cascade Range.   Joanne and Frank enjoyed the many great outdoor recreation activities available in Central Oregon, including hiking, birding and kayaking.   They hosted many wonderful family gatherings in Bend, often around July 4^th where the grand kids could enjoy the parade and fireworks, along with biking and fishing.

 

After 53 wonderful years of marriage, Frank passed away in Bend in 2009; Joanne remained there until 2012 and then moved to University House Wallingford, an active retirement community in Seattle close to Todd and his wife Katherine.   Joanne greatly enjoyed the many cultural and outdoor activities organized by her community.  She especially enjoyed walking around Green Lake, making the three mile loop several times a week in all kinds of weather.

 

Joanne was an avid birder and built an impressive lifetime list of sightings.  She and Frank made numerous trips to birding hotspots to find rare species.  Her homes in Bend and Seattle were decorated with many of Frank’s bird photographs.    Joanne also loved camping with Frank. During their years in Bend, they would spend the winter months traveling with their trailer in Southern California, Arizona or Texas.   Morro Bay and Monterey Bay in California were favorite areas.  When not enjoying the outdoors, Joanne loved reading, listening to classical music, and spending time with friends.

 

Joanne will be remembered for her warm, gentle nature, optimistic outlook on life, and expressions of gratitude for life’s blessings.

 

Joanne will be sorely missed by her two loving children and their spouses: Todd Cleland (Katherine Cleland) of Seattle, Washington and Anne Garner (Gene Garner), of Los Gatos, California; five wonderful grandchildren: Valerie Cleland, Stephanie Cleland, Kristin Garner, Shannon Mauras (Pedro Mauras), and Paige Hoffmann (Colt Hoffmann); and two great grandchildren: Gabriella Mauras and Denzel Mauras.  Joanne was predeceased by her sister Robin McCurdy.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one of Joanne’s favorite charities: Natural Resources Defense Council, EarthJustice, or Progressive Animal Welfare Society.