Joanne Janice Jepperson

Joanne (Davis) Jepperson, 88, Spokane Valley, Washington, passed away on October 6, 2023. Joanne was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many. She was born in 1935 to Richard Elzie and Neola Davis in Colfax, Washington. Joanne was a talented artist, and her childhood in the Palouse often found its way into her oil paintings in the form of the rolling, wheat-covered hills and rugged barns. Growing up on a farm was important to her, and her days working there with her father influenced her future work ethic.

Upon graduating from Colfax High School, Joanne moved to Spokane, where she attended the Kelsey Baird Business School. Against her better judgment, she was set up on a blind date with Edgar Jepperson-- the only thing she knew going into the date was that he liked to drive fast, but their connection was instant. They soon married in 1956, and she frequently recollected that her life was never the same. They raised three children together: Steven, Byran, and Jenel. The family enjoyed the outdoors and spent much time on their Montana property fishing, riding motorcycles, and sitting around the campfire. After Ed discovered a passion for rebuilding, maintaining, and touring in Ford Model T’s, Joanne dove into the activity with him head first. She learned to do bodywork, and she was an active member of the local club chapter. She frequently described the time in the Model T club as one of the happiest in her life, and many of her closest friends were found there.

Joanne was a proud working mother, and while she held a few jobs at St. Luke's and Al Ray's Aquarium shop, she spent most of her career working as a paraprofessional reading teacher in the East Valley School District. She fondly remembered her time as a reading specialist and volunteered at Otis Elementary for another fifteen years after retirement. She was passionate about helping students read and succeed in school and life, and she took special care in helping struggling students.

Art was a constant passion in her life. She consistently painted, and her interests grew to include calligraphy, leatherwork, and beading as time passed. When tragedy struck in 2003 when Ed suddenly passed away, she remained committed to friends, family, volunteering, her creative outlets, and her love of travel.

In 2018, Joanne was diagnosed with dementia, and through the heartbreaking journey that accompanies the disease, she remained a proud and independent-minded person. Her husband Edgar, her brother Kenneth Davis, and her sister Judith Davis preceded her in death. She is survived by her three children, eight grandchildren, and several wonderful great-grandchildren.

The funeral service is scheduled for Sat., October 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home, 1306 N. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley, WA