Joan Patricia Brown Obituary

Joan Patricia Brown
August 30, 1924 - November 7, 2019
Resided in St. Johns, Portland, Oregon

Joan Patricia Brown passed away in her home on November 7, 2019, surrounded by her family caregivers. She was the widow of Austin Brown.

She will be remembered for her cheerful nature, optimistic outlook, her love of historical novels, and having a song for every word you said. An avid world traveler, she was ahead of her time with her fierce tolerance of cultural and ethnic diversity.

Joan Brown was born in London, England on August 30, 1924 to the late James and Ellen Goulding of Potters Bar, England. As a school girl, Joan wished to change her name to “Marigold,” and was an accomplished Netball player.

During WWII, she contributed to troop morale by attending dances for the American soldiers. In 1947, Joan made a new home for herself in Portland, Oregon. She worked and retired as a Lab Receptionist from Kaiser Hospital in North Portland.

Mrs. Brown quickly became involved in the goings on of her St. Johns community, including joining The Welcome Wagon, becoming a Cub Scouts Den Mother, serving as PTA president for both Sitton and Roosevelt schools, and being the Volunteer Coordinator for the PTA Clothing Closet, establishing herself early on as a pillar of the community, all while raising her five children.

Throughout the years, Mrs. Brown has been a welcomed fixture in running the Annual St. Johns Parade, and perpetuating the Mr. and Miss St. Johns Scholarship Awards for Roosevelt seniors. She was the first female ILWU Longshore Retiree President, and remained active in the ILWU Local 8 Ladies Auxiliary. Mrs. Brown was deeply involved with the St. Johns Heritage Association, to preserve and celebrate the great history of St. Johns, and is credited for being instrumental in saving the St. Johns Library from permanent closure.

She and her late husband Austin Brown were recognized on several occasions for their work with the Shirlee Ann Fund, raising tens of thousands of dollars worth of life-saving equipment for Portland Fire Bureau Station 22.

Joan Brown was honored as Grand Marshal of the St. Johns Parade in 2018. At the 2019 Celebrate North Portland banquet Joan Brown was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Joan Brown will be featured in the upcoming St. Johns Heritage Association book, scheduled for publication in 2020.

Mrs. Brown cultivated a legacy of volunteerism and community pride in her five children, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Joan Brown was an exemplary figure in St. Johns, and respected role model in the community.

Joan is survived by her brother Terry Goulding and his wife Jo of Potters Bar, England, her children, Paul Brown and his wife Esther of Aloha, OR, Susan Tennant and her husband Richard of Battleground, WA, Jackie Gruelle, Michael Brown and his wife Carolyn, and Jim Brown and his wife Diana, all of Portland, OR, her grandchildren Jonah Tennant of Boynton, Florida, Heather Tennant, Genevieve West and her husband Eric, and Nathan Brown, all of Portland, OR, her great-grandchildren Elijha Tennant of Boynton, Florida, Aquina Tennant and her partner Shayne Alcorn, Jack Tennant, Joan Torres-Tennant, Evie Brown, Kaylana West, Eleanor West, and Blake West, and her first great-great-grandchild, Jasper Tennant-Alcorn, all of Portland, OR. She was preceded in death by her brothers Dennis Goulding and Jimmy Goulding, and her granddaughter Cassondra “Cassie” Brown.

Services will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home on Saturday, November 30, 2019.
Viewing at 1:00 PM.
Services at 2:00 PM.
4101 NW Skyline Blvd. Portland, OR 97229