Joann Stoneham Northen

Joann Stoneham Northen, age 66, of Belton went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, May 5, 2006. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, May 8, at the First Baptist Church of Belton. Burial will be private. Mrs. Northen was born August 9, 1939 to Opal Leora and Joseph Royal Stoneham. Joann, a graduate of Texas Christian University and the former Southwest Texas State, was a longtime educator in Central Texas, teaching and serving students from 6th grade to college in her over 38 years of teaching. She was most at home in front of a classroom. Joann was very active in church throughout her life, teaching Sunday school to middle-schoolers, high-schoolers, young adults and singles. She particularly enjoyed her stint as First Baptist Church of Temple's "on-call" substitute Sunday school teacher because she relished getting to know fellow church members – young and old – more closely. Most recently, she looked forward to spending time with her beloved friends from her Sunday school class from First Baptist Church of Belton. Joann served as a special inspiration in her most recent health struggles, and showed all of us how to live and walk daily joyfully with Christ. Though she was not able to physically see near the end of her life, she viewed this new challenge as God's way of "getting rid of little distractions" all allowing her to focus on what really mattered. Her wonderful sense of fun and adventure were a joy to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed. Survivors include her husband of 41 years, Roy Northen, twins, Rex Northen and Ronda Northen Murray, sister, Janis Toler, mother, Leora Stoneham, and two grandchildren, Caleb Brock Murray and Royal Calvin Northen. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Texas Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 7, Round Rock, TX 78680.