Grieving, like being blind, is a strange business; you have to learn how to do it. We seek company in mourning, but after the early bursts of tears, after the praises have been spoken, and the good days remembered, and the lament cried, and the grave closed, there is no company in grief. It is a burden borne alone.


Ron and Joan have been our neighbors behind the fence for many years, and Joan was in my bunco group.  Joan would joke "We won't look if you don't look!", about our back yard views.  She was truly interested in hearing about my family's well-being, while keeping a cheerful attitude about her own health struggles.  We have and will continue to miss her so much at our bunco gatherings.   
Ron, She was crazy about those birds, but I can tell she loved you even more.  May special memories of your great romance and adventures help ease your grief now.

Joan was my neighbor on Honey Dew Terrace and has remained a friend ever since. She was a most giving friend. She was a caregiver when I went through cancer and was always thoughtful in every thing she did. I was fortunate to spend time with both Joan and Ron to celebrate our birthdays over the years.  We have shared many special memories. I will miss you, Joan.

So sorry to learn of Joan's death.  I enjoyed working at Austin Community College with Joan.  She was truly a teacher who cared for her students and helping them to succeed. May God bless Joan's family and comfort them at this difficult time.
Doris Patrick

My Aunt Joan radiated love insurmountably; what a beautiful person. I loved her very much and will miss her.

Hello, my name is Erika Garza. My family and I are so blessed to have known such an amazing woman like Joan. And for her, I would like to read something that my mom had written. 

Joan,
My dearest friend, you fought the good fight, you finished the race, and now you are in the presence of our Lord.  
It was an honor and privilege to call you my friend.  Your love of life, compassion,  curiosity, bravery, and humbleness  were an inspiration to us all.  
I had the honor of knowing Joan for 30 years; first as her student, then as her work study, next as her co-worker, and then finally as one of her personal friends.
 She was a caring and kind woman.  And I can remember her always having a smile on for everyone.  She was unique and wonderful, and she was and will always be a role model for me and my family.  She has influenced me in so many ways. And I am so fortunate to have known her.
For the last two years Joan, Dorothy, and I had lunch almost every Friday, and I can say that we are so blessed to have had shared those moments together with her.  And every time it was time to say good bye, Joan would say “I love you and I'll be praying for you.”  So I would like to say to Joan, that I love you and I'll be praying for you my friend..
We will cherish our memories and friendships with you forever in our hearts. You will be truly missed but never forgotten.  We Love You Joan!
And I would like to send my sincere condolences to her husband and to her family.

Hello, my name is Erika Garza. My family and I are so blessed to have known such an amazing woman like Joan. And for her, I would like to read something that my mom had written. 

Joan,
My dearest friend, you fought the good fight, you finished the race, and now you are in the presence of our Lord.  It was an honor and privilege to call you my friend.  Your love of life, compassion,  curiosity, bravery, and humbleness  were an inspiration to us all.  
I had the honor of knowing Joan for 30 years; first as her student, then as her work study, next as her co-worker, and then finally as one of her personal friends.  She was a caring and kind woman.  And I can remember her always having a smile on for everyone.  She was unique and wonderful, and she was and will always be a role model for me and my family.  She has influenced me in so many ways. And I am so fortunate to have known her.

For the last two years Joan, Dorothy, and I had lunch almost every Friday, and I can say that we are so blessed to have had shared those moments together with her.  And every time it was time to say good bye, Joan would say “I love you and I'll be praying for you.”  So I would like to say to Joan, that I love you and I'll be praying for you my friend..

We will cherish our memories and friendships with you forever in our hearts. You will be truly missed but never forgotten.  We Love You Joan!
And I would like to send my sincere condolences to her husband and to her family.

I only got to see Joan a few times through out the years but I always thought she was so nice with a warm smile. My condolences.

Joan was such a joy to be around.
She is sorely missed. Please know my thoughts are with you at this time.

Joan was an inspiration and blessing to me.  She always had a smile and positive attitude, even when she was in a lot of pain.  I am fortunate  to have had her as a friend, Bunco and Book Group sister.  She will be greatly missed,  but never forgotten.

Joan was nothing but a bundle of energy and joy.  I am so very fortunate I had the opportunity to know her.  Stacey Stover

Dear Ron.  It has been something like twenty years since I have seen you and Joan.  But I think of you often because  I regularly drive by an apartment complex on Manor where my memory tells me you and Joan once lived.  I drive by and I think about the old days when I met you and how you guys seemed to me to be such a mature and loving couple.  I think about how you and Joan invited Sharon and me for afternoons on your boat.  I think about your smile and the twinkle in your eyes when you looked at Joan.  And I think about Joan's laugh.  Joan laughed a lot.  

I mostly think, though, about teaching.  What a truly great teacher Joan was, and what wonderful role models that she and Dorothy Martinez were for me as I learned how to be a teacher.  Joan, Mike Dellens, and I occupied cubicles next to each other, with Joan in the middle:  writing, reading, and math all in a line.  Often we had the same student in each of our classes, and worked out plans about how to help that student achieve his or her goals.  Joan was such a smart, organized, focused, caring, deliberate teacher. She knew the full scope of her discipline, and she knew where each student stood in his or her own process of learning.  And in her patient, humorous way, she tolerated Mike and me as we talked over her, literally.  Mike leaned over one wall of her cubicle and I leaned over another, and we talked about our wives, weekends, and softball games.  Poor Joan listened and laughed, and tried to prepare for class.  

We had a tight knit group way back then.  Dorothy was our leader, and a great one, but Joan was the glue that kept us all together.  It was a real blessing for me to have known Joan and to have worked with her side by side.

I wish I could be there on April 30, but my family is currently not living in Austin.  But as I often do, I will be thinking of you and Joan.

Joan was a blessing to everyone she met.  She was a very sweet and kind person and was always smiling.  Joan immediately made me feel welcome.as a part of the Bunco Group when I joined a few years ago and I always enjoyed visiting with her.  She loved life and will be greatly missed.  Joan is no longer suffering and is now at rest - Heaven has welcomed a wonderful angel.  Ron, may your memories of Joan bring happiness to your heart. May God bless you and give you peace.

Ron,  My thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of great grief.  I always enjoyed Joan's company on the "required" office gatherings....she gave me someone fun to be around and I'll never forget her great laugh!  I remember when we first began working together, you described her and told me you just couldn't understand how you got so lucky to have her in your life, that she knew you so well and still loved you.  She made us all feel like she knew us better than we thought and have been blessed by sharing time with her.  May you celebrate her life as only you can.  My condolences.

I love the photo you chose of Joan. It shows her sweetness and kindness.I was lucky to have her in both my bunco and book group and as a neighbor.We all valued her opinion on our books. She had such a fun laugh.I miss her already.

Joan was a great addition to our bunko group and I'm so glad I got to know her. She always had a smile on her face no matter what she was going through. She will be missed.

Ron, our thoughts and prayers are with you.  Joan was such a wonderful, sweet person and I was so blessed to have her as a friend and neighbor. Really enjoyed our times together in bunko and book group.  She always had such a positive outlook on life in spite of her pain.  I miss her.

I taught at ACC with Joan years ago.  She was one of the kindest ladies I think I ever met.  I'm glad she's no longer in pain.  But I feel for you, Ron, and her family.  May you find peace and comfort in time.

Ron, Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Joan was a very special person and will be missed by everyone. I enjoyed working for her at ACC, and will always cherish the friendship we had.

I was blessed to have Joan as a friend, neighbor and "bunko buddy". She had such a sweet, loving personality that her effect on those who knew her was immeasurable. 

Love, prayers and deepest sympathy,

Joan was a friend.  She always had kind words of encouragement and praise whenever we spoke.  Even in her own struggle with pain, her concern for the well being of others prevailed.  She was dedicated to all children and never turned down an opportunity to help.  I recall a little elementary school boy, my son, running in the door one day after spending time with Joan, excitedly saying, "Mom, Ms. Davis really likes to help kids!"  That was Joan.  We will miss her.

Joan was a wonderful, lovely lady and I valued her friendship very much. She was an inspiration to me and watching her battle her constant pain was a testament of courage and strength.  I miss you my friend.

She is free of pain now; she is happy; she is with Shelby and she was our beloved neighbor on Honey Dew Terrace.  She and Ron were surrogate parents to our girls, Susan and Alli.  Every Thursday she would pick them up from school; have treats in the car for them; even go to our house and get their dog, Angie and haul them to the horse barn so they could ride their horses.  I was working and I have just found out that they called themselves "latchkey" children and after school, Joan would invite them over for wonderful treats; set up tv trays and watch TV!  When I had cancer and hip surgery, of course, she was there with them!  They read all the time because of her and both have graduated from college.  I visited her and Ron the day she died and will always remember her sweetness, generosity and deeds of kindness she bestowed on our family.  We still miss all the yard and house decorations for all the seasons.
Jean Fuller - neighbor and friend on Honey Dew Terrace

To Joan's family, from LeRoy Wagner.   Just want to let you know that Joan was a very special friend to me throughout all our school years in Russell and sorry to hear of her passing!  We lived only a block from her and have so many great memories of all the things we did together with so many other friends in our neighborhood!  Our prayers are with you, but she will be with us always! 

With Love,
LeRoy

Ron and Joan were our fist new friends in Austin.  Ron and I were in a design studio together at UT  in 1979.  That was a fun studio. There are so many wonderful memories that we have collected over the last 35 years.  It saddens me to think that she will miss the next 30 years of memories.  Joan, I will miss your kind smile, but I know you will be there with us cheering us on.

             SWEET MEMORIES

First our mothers; Marie and Tekla, were friends, so naturally we became friends.

The "gang" could easily be together as you could go from Joans house and two doors down was Cheris house, and next door was Marys house.  Talk about convenient !!

Joan hosted my bridal shower and I remember thinking she was so lucky to have a beautiful older sister June.  I only had an older brother :)

But probably the "sweetest" memory was the HOURS we spent dragging Main Street in "Old Gray"  -  the older model car that Joan had been given permission to drive; but only "certain" days.  

Joan was an important person in my life growing up and as I look at the photo gallery, I am so reminded of our mothers  -  where it all began so many years ago.

FLY WITH THE ANGELS MY DEAR FRIEND.

Roselyn Arnhold Heckman

Ron, I am so sorry to hear about Joan.  Such a sweet spirit.  My prayers are with you.  God's love and grace will guide you until you see her again.

Joan Davis,  a very special person and daughter in law. Very loving and caring to our family, as well as her husband Ron. Our lives will miss her. Rest in peace, Joan. We love you.

For years Joan's toothbrush sat next to mine in a ceramic cup on our bathroom counter.  But I took her toothbrush to her when she had to go back in the hospital and nursing home. I missed seeing her toothbrush next to mine.  So yesterday I dug through the box of stuff that Bobbie Jo had been kind enough to  bring back from the hospital for me, found Joan's toothbrush and put it back in the ceramic cup next to mine.  I know it is silly, but it helps me feel like I have a little bit of Joan back with me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4dci4Z7p6A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I do not love you as if you were salt rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the hidden flowers;
thanks to you a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way 

then this; where I does not exist, nor you, 
so close that your hand on my chest is my  hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

So sorry Ron for your loss. Joan will always be in out hearts

Ron - It is very sad to hear Joan's passing away.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  May you have enough strength to take this loss.

My fondest memory: Our first Christmas with Joan when Ron brought her home to meet the family. We were instant sisters the day we met! As a joke, I made her the fake fox fur (complete with head and tail) to wear around her neck. She wore it out dancing that night! I loved her humor and her loving nature! I will miss you Joan!

Joan, Always one of the sweetest, loving and kind souls I have ever known. You will be deeply missed! Love you to the moon! 
Judy & Johnny Reeves

So sorry to hear of Joan's passing.  I always enjoyed visiting with her at our ADK meetings.  She will be missed.
Janelle Howe
Gamma Delta

Joan, we are going to miss your sweet and funny nature.  I will cherish our memories and fun times. No more pain and suffering.  We love you.

Ron, We are saddened to here of Joan's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.  

Ron and Becky Korell

Christmas - Joan loved Christmas and Christmas music, she would play it all year round if Ron would let her.  Ron took to buying her other record albums anytime she showed an interest in any other kind of music, just so he would not have to listen to Christmas music all of the time.

We will be playing some Christmas music at Joan's Memorial Service.

Ron,
We were so sorry to hear of Joan's passing. Such a sweetheart, she always made us feel like every word that came out of our silly mouths was worth a listen. We are thinking of you, Ron, and send our sincerest condolences to you and to Joan's family. 
Pat & Wayne Cuthbertson

OBITUARY

Joan G. Davis

April 19, 1947 – April 13, 2014

Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park

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