Joann Mae (Matney) Meeds March 17, 1935 - February 23, 2018

Joann Mae (Matney) Meeds passed away at home and surrounded by family on February 23, 2018. An Irish gal, she was born on St. Patrick’s Day, 1935 to Earl and Marcie Matney in Prosser, Washington. She moved with her family to California as a young child and graduated Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1953. Joann, the sweet redhead Dave wished for, met David L. Meeds, a sailor on shore liberty, on a blind date in December 1954. They married two years later and soon moved to the Monroe area, where they raised their five children.

Joann was a continually involved and impactful member of her community, volunteering with many local organizations and serving in numerous outreach activities through her church. A few of these were: starting a daycare program for the children of visitors to inmates at the Washington State Reformatory in the 1960’s, doing research and record-keeping for the Monroe Historical Society, fundraising for March of Dimes, working as a Voter Registrar and feeding and housing of homeless. Joann was a long-time creator of handmade quilts and a member of several local quilting groups who eventually hosted a group in her own home. She worked as a substitute paraeducator for the Monroe School District before she and Dave retired.   

Joann was a loving, kind, caring, supportive, devoted mother and grandmother, a faithful, steadfast wife, and a gracious lady who was a true friend to many. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Dave, her sister Carolynn Cooper, children Denise (Bryon) Hollenbeck, Scott Meeds, Nola (Clemance) Miller, Shannon Muse and Russell (Casey) Meeds, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be held at the Monroe Congregational Church, 301 South Lewis Street in Monroe at 1:00pm on April 28, 2018. Joann loved flowers and plants so please feel free to plant something in her memory; donations may also be made to the Women’s Fellowship of the Congregational Church or to Planned Parenthood.