Mary Joanna Fauver

Deep River, Washington resident Mary Joanna Fauver, 87, died in Astoria, Oregon on December 3, 2010. A native of Valley, Washington, she was born there on September 11, 1923, the daughter of Earl and Mary (Imhoff) Wright.

Known to all as Joanna, she was a former long-time resident of Hoquiam, Washington where she was a wife, mother and homemaker. Her numerous lifetime accomplishments included being a Cub Scout den mother and an active participant in the Parent Teacher Association, having served as Washington state PTA treasurer. She was a member of the Grays Harbor county board of education where she served two four year terms as chairwoman and was proud to have helped institute the bookmobile, a library on wheels that served outlying areas of Grays Harbor county.

Joanna was a graduate of the Grays Harbor Community College nursing program and subsequently worked in the nursery and pediatric wards at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Aberdeen. Later she was employed as company health nurse for Grays Harbor Paper Company. Following retirement she volunteered as a reception assistant at the Grays Harbor Community Hospital’s east campus cancer clinic.

Joanna was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Hoquiam, Order of Eastern Star and Daughter’s of The Nile. In later years she wrote poetry and completed “The Poet Laureate Course,” becoming a member of the International Library of Poetry. Her poems won fifteen honorary awards and in 2008 she published a book of her works. Knitting, crocheting and playing pinochle were favorite pastimes. She was an example of unconditional love for her children and all who knew her, and will be greatly missed.

She and Robert “Bob” Fauver met at a dance and this was an activity both enjoyed during their married years. Following their marriage 17 years ago Joanna moved to Deep River near Naselle.

Besides her husband Joanna is survived by her sons Larry Smith of Cosmopolis, WA, Donald Collier of Hoquiam, WA and James Collier of Fresno, WA; daughter Faith Hutchinson of Juneau, AK; sister Edith Goforth of Aberdeen, WA; step children Camille Brownlie of Redmond, OR, Harland Fauver of Longview, WA, Craig Fauver of Naselle, WA and Dianne Wirkkala of Naselle; seven grandchildren; several great and great-great grandchildren; and other members of her extended family.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 18, 2010, 1:30 PM at the Presbyterian Church, 210 K Street, Hoquiam, Washington with a reception following. Graveside services have been held at Peaceful Hill Cemetery in Naselle, Washington under the direction of Penttila’s Chapel by The Sea, Long Beach. Her guestbook is available at http://www.penttilaschapel.com.