JoAnne Honeywell

JoAnne Shepherd Honeywell went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, December 3rd, 2023, at the age of 88. JoAnne was born to missionary parents Philip and Myrtle Shepherd on July 18th, 1935, in Lebanon, Kentucky with dark auburn hair and a sweet disposition. She spent her first years in Jos, Nigeria with her family who served under the Sudan Interior Mission. At age 5, the family moved back to the states to Detroit to be near family and then to the Pacific Northwest where her father had a navy civilian job during World War ll. She grew up on Lake Washington and in the Rose Hill area and was the eldest of 8 children, being like a 2nd mom to the youngest 4.

JoAnne loved to read and sing as a child and gave her life to Jesus at age 12. The highlight of her teens was boarding at King’s Garden High School in North Seattle. While there, she blossomed and enjoyed traveling with the choir and even sang on the radio with her quartet. She graduated from Lake Washington High School and went to work as a telephone operator. She then met the love of her life, Jack and after a short courtship, they married in December at age 18 and 21. They were married for 70 years and had 3 children, Beverly, Valarie, and Anthony. They lived in Oklahoma, Oregon and then settled in the Avondale, Redmond area, then Ames Lake and for the last 50 years were residents of North Bend.

She devoted her life to her family and was a wonderful cook, baker, and seamstress. Her chocolate, cream cheese filled cake is almost famous! An expert seamstress, she sewed most of her children’s clothes. Easter, Christmas and Prom dresses, her grandchildren’s matching red pajamas, and even Jack’s western shirts were no challenge for her. Her kids could hear the “whir”of her sewing machine into the night. Her handmade crafts were sold at the Country Mouse shop in Gilman Village and she shared a love of crocheting with her daughter in law Suzie. She was a voracious reader, collected angels for over 50 years and was very patriotic, supporting her 4 veteran brothers with prayers and cookie packages sent in the mail when they were deployed overseas.

She had a quiet, gentle faith and rededicated her life to Christ in the 1970’s, joining Mount Si Lutheran Church and then attending Bible Study Fellowship with Bev and serving as the snack coordinator and then staying after to watch the leader’s children.

She loved to travel with her family to see her sister, Edie, in Minnesota, her sister, Judy, in Florida and her brother David, in El Paso, and Jack’s family in Oklahoma, as well as to California, Oregon, and South Dakota to watch her grandson Dave play PLU Football and also took a trip of a lifetime to Hawaii to visit her granddaughter Lindsay and her family. Camping was a family favorite, first in the big blue tent, then the pop up and then their camping trailer. They traveled to over 30 different NW campgrounds with camping buddies, daughter Val and son in law Phill.

Her grandchildren and her great grandchildren adored her. She was a nanny to them reading and caring for them, even in her 80’s. The Elementary ones walked to their home after school to visit and have snacks and G.Grandson Jack would drop by regularly after work for a visit. Tea parties and “Crafting Cousins” were favorites where she reconnected with her nieces.

Everyone who knew her has said her greatest attribute was love and her sweet spirit. She will be greatly missed and remembered for her kindness, intelligence, creativity, and her steadfast love for her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents Phil and Myrtle Shepherd, younger brothers John, Philip, Paul, and Richard. She is survived by her husband Jack, daughters Bev Weller (Bill), Val Reed (Phillip), son Tony, (Suzie), her amazing grandchildren Nate Weller (Gretchen), Lindsay Hudson ( Joe), Lacey Anderson ( Russell), Dave Weller ( Samantha), Christa McVicker (Bob), Laz Honeywell and Danni Honeywell and Great Grandkids Nathanial Reed, Jack Hudson, Maddie McVicker, Judah Weller, Elijah Weller, Lillian Anderson, James McVicker, Rebekah Weller, Caleb Hudson, Everly Hudson and sisters Edie Libby (Lawrence), Judy Lee (Chuck) and her brother, David Shepherd (Sunny).

A celebration of her life will be held on Palm Sunday, March 24th, at The Church on The Ridge, 35131 S.E. Douglas Street, Snoqualmie, Washington at 2:00pm with a tea reception to follow. Friends and family are invited to share memories and condolences on her tribute page at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/redmond-wa/joanne-honeywell-11573168

Memorial donations may be made to: The Gretchen Weller Foundation- P.O. Box 1762, Ellensburg, Washington, 98926 (for families living well with cancer) or World Relief- 23835 Pacific Hwy S suite 100 Kent, Washington, 98032 (sewing machines to women in Africa and Afghan women refugees).