Joan Roberta Oviatt

A graveside service for Joan will be held Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 12:30 PM at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Portland, Oregon.

Joan Roberta Oviatt was born in Portland Oregon on December 15, 1932. She died on her 90th birthday, December 15, 2022, in her home in Portland surrounded by the love of her family and friends

She was the first-born daughter of Fred and Carolyn Angela Nordstrom. She had one younger sister, Marguerite (Margie Kame). They grew up in NE Portland attending Portland Public Schools, Vestal Elementary and Girls Polytechnic High School. Joan loved going to an all-girl’s school where she met her lifelong friend, Betty Dale (Stovall) Peters. During her years there she participated in various clubs: Clothing, Fanciannes (crocheting, knitting, and embroidering), Jr. Roadside Council, Pro Tegere, Science Club, Spring Senior Class Play, and Chorus where she sang Alto. She graduated from High School in 1951, and after school began working at State Farm Insurance Company.

In 1955, Joan met a sailor whose ship was docked in Portland for the Rose Festival and fell in love. That sailor, William (Bill) Oviatt, was just a month away from honorably discharging from the Navy. He sailed with his ship to San Francisco for discharge and came back to Portland to marry Joan, rather than return to his childhood home and family in Connecticut. They were married on July 1, 1955 and remained married for 66 years until Bill’s death in 2021. Their family consisted of 5 children, William Scott Oviatt (Becky), Kristi Lynn Foiles, Karla Marie Jones (Bryan), Konnie Joan Oviatt, and Kenneth Edwin Oviatt (Lisa).

Bill and Joan started a family immediately and Joan became a stay-at-home Mom throughout their marriage. Their faith in the Lord Jesus began to grow and church activities became a big part of their lives. She enjoyed gardening (flowers & vegetables), the Oregon Coast, Central Oregon, traveling and camping with her family, singing in the church choir, volunteer work (community & church), spending time with her children and grandchildren and their many animals they had over the years.

Joan loved to laugh and had a great smile and sense of humor. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, and friend.

She is survived by her 5 children, her 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandson. She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sister.

A graveside service for Joan will be held Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 12:30 PM at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Portland, Oregon.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Oviatt family.