Joanne Marie Fleming

January 10, 1926 - October 17, 2014

Joanne Marie Baker Fleming passed away on Friday, October 17, 2014 at the age of 88. She was a resident of Mary's Woods Retirement Community in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Joanne was born to Charles and Anne Baker of Hoquiam, Washington on January 10, 1926. She had two brothers, one older, one younger. She grew up in Hoquiam, attending St. Mary's Elementary School and Hoquiam High School. She graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1943. Joanne attended Marylhurst College in Oswego, Oregon from the fall of 1943 through May of 1947, and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree. During several years of her time in high school and college, her dad was away in the Pacific serving as a Captain in the US Navy engaged in fighting the Japanese in World War II.

While attending Marylhurst College, a cousin introduced Joanne to her future husband, Louis M. Fleming. Following her graduation from Marylhurst College, Lou and Joanne were married in Hoquiam, Washington on November 28, 1947. They honeymooned at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. They moved to Lou's home town of Portland, and together they raised a family of two sons and three daughters. Lou and Joanne were married for 47 years until his death in 1994 at the age of 72.

Once all five children were enrolled in school, Joanne went to work for the Portland Public School District as a teacher's aide at Boise Middle School in north Portland where she worked full time until her retirement in 1988. She found great enjoyment and a sense of fulfillment in serving the many students she worked with there over the years.

Joanne moved into an apartment at Mary's Woods Retirement Community adjacent to the campus of her old alma mater, Marylhurst University, in April of 2001 shortly after the facility opened. She was very happy to be able to live on the campus of her former college, and greatly enjoyed her retirement years there. A few years ago, she developed progressive dementia, and eventually moved to the memory care unit at Mary's Woods, the Marie Rose Center, where she died peacefully last Friday evening.

Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Lou, in 1994, by her son, David, in 1987, and by her two brothers, John Baker and David Baker. She is survived by son Louis (Susan) Fleming Jr. of Coeur d'Alene, ID; daughters Jane (Bryan) Wallace and Anne (John) Fleming of Portland, OR, and daughter Mary (David) Burkhart of Oregon City, OR; grandsons Michael Burkhart of Frisco, TX, Brian (Kellie) Miner of Spokane Valley, WA, and Keith (Jaymie) Miner of Spokane Valley, WA; and granddaughters Kelley Herr of Astoria, OR, Jessica Burkhart of Chaska, MN, Sara Burkhart of Frisco, TX, Jessica (Ryan) Meyer of Camas, WA; six great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, six cousins of her generation, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Marie Rose Center at Mary's Woods, past and present, for their loving care of Joanne over the last few years. It was apparent to all of us that she was well and lovingly cared for, and that she was comfortable and happy in her final years. Joanne was a gentle, giving soul and a role model for many family members, both immediate and extended. But her gentle spirit came with backbone. She taught all of us that service to others is a high calling, and that standing up for what is right is a virtue to be acted upon. These attributes remained at the center of who she was until the end of her journey. She will be greatly missed by her family.

A funeral mass in celebration of Joanne's life will be offered on Friday, October 24th at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Names in the Provincial House at Mary's Woods located at 17400 Holy Names Drive, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034. The family will host a reception for all attendees at Mary's Woods immediately following the funeral service. Internment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Portland immediately following the reception.

The family recommends donations in lieu of flowers in Joanne's honor to the Resident Assistance Fund at Mary's Woods at the following address: Mary's Woods, Development Department, 17400 Holy Names Drive, Lake Oswego, OR 97034.

Arrangements under the direction of Caldwell's, Hennessey, Goetsch & McGee Funeral Home, Portland, OR.