Joan Marie Underwood

Joan Marie Underwood, age 91, of Henderson, Nevada, passed away on Friday, October 31, 2025. She was born in Texas, where she was adopted. Joan moved to Sacramento, California, in her childhood years. As she got older, she attended high school in Long Beach, where she graduated, and continued her education, graduating from college in Sacramento.

Her first job was working at an orphanage in Sutterville, California, and also for food shelters around California, helping to donate food to those in need. Joan began her career with the Department of Education as an office assistant, and retired after 25 years at an early age of 55-60 as a Staff Services Manager 1.

Joan married her first husband, Edward Fernandes, at age 18 and had two sons, the oldest, Mark Fernandes, born in 1956, and the youngest, David Fernandes, born in 1958. She was married to Edward until 1970. On May 15, 1975, Joan married the love of her life, Reginald Underwood, who was recently retired from the US Air Force and was working for the United States Postal Service. Upon their marriage, they blended their lives and families and would embark on a journey that would span over the next 48 years until his passing in 2023.

Between 1976 and 1977, Reg and Joan had two homes built; one in Folsom, California, and their “cabin” at Donner Lake in Truckee, California. The family enjoyed creating many treasured memories, including fishing and playing at the lake and, later, hosting some of their children’s wedding receptions.

After Joan and her husband, Reg, retired, they decided to pull up stakes and make a bold move to Henderson, Nevada, where Reg could golf to his heart's content in the warm sunshine, and they could enjoy the endless variety of entertainment options in Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. They both traveled the world, including cruises and trips to Hawaii; They would spend their summers in the cabin at Donner Lake, and Winters and Spring in Henderson. Additionally, Joan loved to perform shows and was a very talented and dedicated singer. Joan and Reg loved spending time performing at the MacDonald Ranch Variety Club, where Joan served as president for many years, and built many strong friendships.

Joan was an amazing and loving mother and grandmother. She was very family-oriented and one of her most proud accomplishments was raising her grandson, Elijah Fernandes at the Donner Lake Cabin. She was a dedicated patriot; raising three Marines in the family, both of her sons and her grandson; and married to her husband who, served 22 years in the US Air Force. Joan lived life to the fullest and will truly be missed.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Reg; and her son, David Fernandes. She is survived by her children: Mark Fernandes from her previous marriage; and her bonus children: Reggie Underwood, Jr (Linda), Edgar "Eddie" Underwood (Shannon), and Lisa Blackwell (Bob); her grandchildren: Amanda Kwok, Sabrina Lim, Jacob and Ethan Blackwell, David Jr. "D.J.", and Elijah Fernandes; and her great granddaughter, Audrey Lambert.

A memorial service for Joan will be held Monday, November 17, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Palm Henderson Mortuary, 800 South Boulder Highway, Henderson, NV 89015.