Joan Eda Still, 89, of Tualatin, Oregon, finally realized her dream of being with her Lord and Savior. She often said, "Old age is just not what it's cracked up to be. I'm ready for the good Lord to take me home."
Joan was born in Oregon City, Oregon, on March 22, 1933. Her parents were William and Francis Gould. She was the fifth child born out of eight children. Her eight siblings were Doris June, Phyllis Rose, Phillip Martin, Helen Lucretia, Louise Ida, Sylvia Juanita, and Ronald William who tragically died at the age of three months because of an enlarged heart. During this time Joan and her siblings attended Canby Grade School.
When Joan was 10, her family moved to Oregon City. Their new home was the Tiddly Wink Farm on Beaver Creek Road. During this time her family began attending the Oregon City Evangelical Church. Joan gave her heart to the Lord at the age of 10. Her family attended services faithfully on Sundays and Wednesdays. Joan loved to sing. She sang in a trio with her sister Louise and a family friend, Dorthy. She additionally loved to sing with her siblings Phillip and Helen while taking rides in the family car. She recognized her family didn't have much, but they all got along well with each other. She indicated, "It was a good life."
Later in life, she attended Oregon City High School with her siblings where she continued to enjoy singing in choir and in a sextet with her sister Louise. The group had the opportunity to travel around sharing their voices. During this time she also became involved in sports. She played volleyball and softball. She admitted she wasn't very good at basketball.
Joan met her future husband, Arthur Still, at the Oregon City Evangelical Church. After high school they both attended Cascade College together. It took a few times, but Joan finally agreed to go out on a date with Arthur. Their first few dates were attending youth group activities together at their church. Joan took a job working for Crown Zellerbach while Arthur worked at Publisher's Paper Mill. The majority of their time together was spent with church people at church activities.
After six months of dating, Arthur proposed to Joan while riding in a boat on the Rockaway, Oregon, coast. Their engagement lasted for a year before they were married. Joan indicated she planned her own wedding. She ordered her own cake, paid for her bridesmaid dresses and beads. She paid 40 dollars for her beautiful wedding dress. Their wedding was held on August 10, 1956, at the Christian Church in Oregon City. During the ceremony, Arthur's finger swelled so much Joan couldn't get the ring on his finger. She ended up having to put the ring on his pinky finger. They spent one week on their honeymoon in San Francisco, California, at the home of Arthur's millionaire Uncle Arthur and Mabel Dettner. Joan and Art's first home was a cabin located on the Evangelical Conference grounds in Milwaukie, Oregon, while Arthur attended the Evangelical Seminary studying to become an ordained minister.
During their long marriage together, Joan and Arthur had five children. Jeanette Lee, James Alan, Jeffery Arthur, Julie Anna, and Joyce Marie. They were all born within a 7 year period. After being married, Joan did not hold a job from this time in her life. She was destined to perform a much more important job being a housewife and beloved mother for the remainder of her life.
After her husband finished seminary, Joan became a preacher's wife. During her life with Arthur they ministered altogether at 7 different churches around the Pacific Northwest. Joan cherished her opportunity to be a mother. Her five children, her six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren were her life. She loved every moment she spent with any of them. It was the joy of her life.
After 63 years of marriage to Arthur, her husband passed away at the age of 90. Joan lived nearly three more years after spending time in an assisted living community passing away at the age of 89. She leaves behind her five children, a son in law Corey Ostby, and a daughter in law Carrie Still. She also leaves behind Jason Hoy, Taylor Still, Stuart Ostby and his spouse Lindsey Ostby, Kaylee Still, Peyton Sides and her spouse Clark Sides, Paige Moore and her spouse Clark Moore, and Shelby Still her beloved grandchildren. Additionally she leaves her great grandchildren: Asa Ostby, Nathan Ostby, Joseph Ostby, Liam Still, Leo Rowney, Clark Moore.
Joan was loved and cherished and we will always have a special place in our hearts for her forever. There is no replacing what she meant to us all. We will continue to love her and she will be missed. It was a blessing to have had the pleasure of having her in our lives.
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