Joan A. Becker

Joan A. Becker 1935-2024, 89 years old Her heart was tired. She was proceeded in death by her son and firstborn child, Jason, husband of 45 years Robert, parents Francis and Regina, and her best friend and sister, Clare. She is survived by two brothers, Frank (Patricia) and Donnie (late Donna), many nieces and nephews and their families, her dearest brother-in-love, Gary, and lastly her sweet son-in-love, Jack and amazing daughter, Jamie, both from Seymour, TX. Joan kept friends for a lifetime and she cherished their visits or calls, the memories made and the laughter shared. You know who you are if you’re reading this. Joan was a member and past- president of the Belle Fontaine Garden Club for decades, a member of the American Legion Post #250 in Fowl River, a Pink Lady at Knollwood Park Hospital, a volunteer school nurse at Alba in Bayou La Batre, AL in the 70’s, a multiple gallon blood donor to the American Red Cross, a volunteer with Keep Mobile Beautiful and the Festival of Flowers, a loyal volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in Mobile and most chapter positions and star points in the OES after joining the Mt. Moriah Chapter #182 (Charles Haynes Lodge) in Bayou La Batre (in 1978) and later in life at the Mobile Chapter #348 (in 2010). She was a Worthy Matron several times and served as Grand Electa in ‘95-96 of the Order of Eastern Star and as a Grand Representative of the Grand Chapter of Minnesota in 1986 and New Brunswick Canada in 2015. Her favorite position was that of Marshal because she loved to order people around and keep things organized and running on time. After graduating from Buckeley High School in CT, she attended the Hartford Hospital School of Nursing graduating in 1956. She worked as a nurse for ten years in the neurosurgery operating room, labor & delivery department and as a floor nurse. Her first trip to AL was in 1961, when she was 26, reporting to Gunter (Maxwell) AFB in Montgomery. She proudly served, leaving duty as a Captain (Westover AFB) in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps., stationed in the most beautiful place ever, Fairbanks, AK. The coldest day for her while living there was 72° below zero! Joan always had a book available to read starting from an early age when she could walk a few blocks to the library until the very end of her life. In her golden years, she only read paperbacks “because they don’t hurt when they fall on your chest” and because they fit easily into her purse. She read several books a week and maintained a neighborhood book share out of her garage and kept it well stocked with romance novels from the used bookstore. Both her Grandmother and her home economics teacher would have been proud of Joan’s sewing, crafting and cooking skills. Joan was an excellent cook always choosing to purchase cookbooks from the gift stores as she and Bob traveled across the country. She visited all 50 states as a tourist and made that first trip from the East Coast to the West Coast as a solo driver in her little blue Nash Rambler. Although born a Yankee (Hartford,CT), she was fervently adamant that she was never leaving Mobile, AL which she jokingly declared made her a damn yankee! Her community volunteerism extends beyond her last breath by donating her body to the University of South Alabama’s Medical School Anatomical Board so that others in the medical profession may practice and learn. In lieu of flowers or casseroles, a donation may be made in her memory, to the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile @ 1626 Springhill Ave, Mobile, AL 36604 or the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington, VA 22203 where she was a charter member or to a charity of your choice.

Tributes

Joan A. Becker

April 24, 1935 - November 10, 2024