Obituary for Joan Claire Sheard
Joan Claire (Parker) Sheard –pronounced “JoAnn”, age 85, passed away on June 6, 2023, in Spokane Valley, WA. Joan was born September 10, 1937, in Freeport, Texas to J.G. and Ruth Vivian (Clark) Parker.
Joan married Walter Sheard in Freeport, Texas on June 11, 1960. They were married for 62 years and had two daughters: D. Louise Sheard and Laura Jeannean Skidmore (Chad) and three grandchildren: Brynna Biddle, Emily Gainer, and Quentin Gainer.
Joan graduated from Brazosport High School in 1956 where she loved her acapella choir and was a charter member of the National Honor Society. She graduated from Southwest Texas State College, San Marcos in 1960 with a B.S. in Education. After graduation she taught 6th grade at Lake Jackson Elementary in Texas.
After marrying Walt, they moved to the Spokane Valley in 1960 where Joan taught 6th grade at Progress Elementary School until the birth of Louise in 1963. They then moved to Fairfield, WA and Laura was born in 1964. In 1965, Joan began teaching half days at East Liberty Elementary School as a librarian, junior high education teacher, home economics teacher, art teacher, reading specialist and then full-time 3rd grade teacher. She continued teaching at Liberty when the school moved to Spangle as a 3rd grade teacher until she retired in 1994. Joan received her master’s degree in curriculum with a Principalship from Gonzaga University. She loved teaching and felt she had the best of her teaching years due to the advantage of a great school district and a wonderful community.
Joan loved all kinds of activities: camping, swimming, reading, quilting, singing, doing leaded glass, plus teaching Sunday school and directing the choir at the Fairfield Presbyterian Church. She and Walt loved singing and dancing in the Fairfield Flag Day shows. They traveled extensively after they retired and were able to visit all five continents plus Antarctica and Australia.
In 1994, they moved back to the Spokane Valley and joined the Valley United Methodist Church. Joan volunteered at the Valley hospital until her arthritis made it too difficult, so she began volunteering at Valley Partners. Joan especially loved her water aerobics and found many new dear friends there.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Walt, her brother, Dr. Jack C Parker, her sister-in-law, Patricia, and sister, Dorothy Jean Adkins.
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Previous Events
Memorial Service
Saturday
17
Jun
11:00 AM
Pines Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel
12116 East 16th Ave
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Cemetery Details
Location
Pines Cemetery
1402 S. Pines Rd. Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Spokane Valley, WA 99216
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