Joan Edith Perry

Joan Perry was born October 26th, 1934 to Robert and Edith Broadhurst in Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated from Granite High School in 1952, then married Vernon Lawrence Perry on August 29, 1953. She attended Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing and returned to the University of Utah to earn a Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1959. After a move to Manteca California, she worked at San Joaquin Health District as a Public Health Nurse for 14 years. In 1975 she moved to Walla Walla, Washington and was employed by the Walla Walla County-City Health Department. She received her Masters in Public Health (while working full time) from the University of Washington in 1985, then after 24 years at the Walla Walla Health Department, she retired as the Director of Nursing in January 2000.

Joan was a mother, wife, grandma, advocate, nurse, storyteller, avid bird watcher, creative writer and friend. She and her husband of 65 years were always laughing, traveling all over the world, camping, fishing and doing handiwork. She was passionate about her career in public health, connecting with coworkers, patients and making friends everywhere she went. Her life was never boring but always interesting, full of love for the family and filled with stories to share. She was a wonderful woman of her word, who was greatly loved and will be missed very much by family and friends.

“I’ve had a wonderful life following my dreams.” - Joan Perry

She is preceded in death by her husband Vern Perry, parents, and her son Douglas Perry.

She is survived by her sister Barbara Sandberg, her daughter Suzie and son-in-law Tim Temple, her daughter Kim and son-in-law Dan Vine, her granddaughter Breanna, and grandson Tyler and his fiancé Chloe Ropner.

A gathering for family and friends will be held to celebrate her life at the Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens.

Family and Friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com