Margaret Joan Weeks of Fresno, CA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 11, 2015, at the age of 89. Joan was born in Glendale, CA on June 17, 1926. She was the daughter of Reed Garman and LuLu "Mimi" (Crooks).
Joan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Relations from University of California, Berkeley, and became an ad copywriter for the San Francisco Examiner, then went on to write a radio children's program in San Francisco. She moved to Fresno, CA and became an advertisement writer for KMJ-24 News Station and also ventured into real estate. Joan later became editor of the Villager Newspaper for the Fig Garden Village area.
Joan lived a most extraordinary life and was a remarkable pioneer of her times. At 21, she lived in Japan for a year, during the United States occupation following World War II. While there, Joan travelled to see China's Great Wall by herself. Joan earned a pilot's license, flying planes in her early 20's. She also owned a Saddlebred show horse, which she rode in Golden Gate Park. At age 26, Joan travelled to London to see the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In her career, Joan earned numerous journalism awards, but was never able to receive them, due to her gender. She was a world traveller, having visited five continents.
Joan enjoyed hiking with friends; road trips with her daughter Mary; the Sierra Club; breeding Bassett Hounds; the fine arts; literature; bridge; golf; and was an avid student throughout her entire life. Giving back to the community was very important. Joan founded and organized the Fig Gig, a yearly fundraising event for the Fresno community. She was also instrumental in the building of the Woodward Park Library. Joan stated that her greatest accomplishment in life was being the proud mother of her four children.
Joan was preceded in death by her son, Jim Weeks, on February 1, 2015.
She is survived by her son, Ed Weeks and wife Karin; two step-grandsons, Jason and Jeremy Wong, of Fresno; daughters, Mary Weeks, of Woodland Hills, CA, and Nancy Dantin and husband John, of Annapolis, MD; daughter-in-law, Linda Weeks; and two grandchildren, Allison and Brian Weeks, of Fresno, CA.
Friends and family are welcome to attend a Graveside Service at Clovis Cemetery, 305 N. Villa Avenue, Clovis, CA 93612, on Saturday, July 25, 2015, at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America; or the Sierra Club.
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