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- Georgia Joan Coburn was born Aug. 3, 1935, in Casper, Wyo., to Clayton and Marguerite Crayne, the first of four children. The family relocated to Kelso, where they owned and operated a large egg farm. Georgia, or Joan as she like to be called, attended Kelso High School, graduating in 1953.
While still in school, she was introduced to her future husband, Dale Hunter Coburn, by her future mother-in-law, Elma Lee Coburn. Elma would always brag that she "picked out" her beloved daughter-in-law, who she affectionately called Jodie. Since Dale was serving in the Navy, after their wedding she moved to Boston to be near his navel base. She thought it was a great adventure, and was thrilled to see the East coast.
After Dale's discharge, they relocated to Longview. Dale went to work for Weyerhaeuser in the pulp division powerhouse, and Joan set about the business of beginning a family. The couple had two children in two years, and were delighted with a third child six years later.
To help make ends meet, Joan had many careers over time. She sold Avon and Tupperware, babysat toddlers and cooked in a nursing home. Her most successful job venture was with her dear friend Carolee Anderson. Together, they crafted the famous "No Tie Scarf" and sold it to great reviews many years at the Portland Saturday Market.
She was especially proud of Dale, who while maintaining a career in the Naval Reserve had finished schooling to become a boiler engineer at Weyerhaueser. Together, they were a team hard to beat. Dale's love for the water brought him to buy a boat in 1967 and teach his family to ski. Joan's job was to pack the picnic basket and the camper, and ride shotgun in the boat watching the skiers. She also fished with him, and their big fish stories were without parallel. She was a consummate hostess, and entertained out-of-state guests, friends and relatives alike, while serving up some of the best cooking on the planet. Campouts with family and friends were a highlight of every summer. Joan was an avid card player and a true competitor. She looked forward to her card games every Friday with her beloved girlfriends, and reveled in giving her grandchildren a whoopin' at Skipbo and Cribbage. There was always much laughter around Joan, as she had a generous and limber wit. She lived a life filled with people who loved her, laughed with her, and cherished her for the treasure she was to us all.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Marguerite Crayne, and her husband, Dale H. Coburn in 2002.
She is survived by three children, Roy C. Coburn (Donna) of Seaside, Ore., Sandra Coburn Carl (Kurt) of Longview and Paul H. Coburn of Longview; seven grandchildren, Matt Coburn, Jaymie Manning, Stefanie Kytta, Amber, Shawna and Paige Coburn, and Brice Willis; four great-grandchildren, of whom she was very proud; her loving siblings, Jim Crayne (Sharon) of Kelso, Gary Crayne (Margaret) of Castle Rock and Maxine Sides of Longview, her sweet baby sister; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends forged over a lifetime, as Joan was a true and loyal co-conspirator, and showed her generosity of spirit to all the lives she touched.
A celebration of Joan's life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Steele Chapel. Private inurnment will take place at Longview Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made in Joan Coburn's name to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1218, Longview, WA 98632.
Daily News, The (Longview, WA): Mar. 17, 2010
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1935 - 2010 (74 years)
