Dec. 6, 1928 – May 28, 2013

Joan Alee Beckley (pronounced Joann) of Bend, OR, passed away May 28, 2013 at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. She was 84 years old.

Joan was born on a dairy farm in the Nestucca River Valley between Pacific City and Cloverdale, Oregon to Alva and Margie (Walton) Learned on December 6, 1928. She graduated from Nestucca High School, attended Oregon State University, and married Charles L. Beckley on June 21, 1948, before they moved to Bend in 1952. She remained a resident of Bend until her death.

Joan worked for the Bend School District for many years as an elementary school secretary beginning with the first rotating school secretary for Yew Lane, Young, Marshall and Kingston Grade Schools. She then moved on to Reid-Thompson, Kenwood, Jewell, Buckingham and back to Kenwood before retiring in 1987. She was an awesome secretary and she loved the kids and they loved her. Over the years she was involved in many activities some of which included: volunteering for the Bend Filter Center during the Cold War (tracking unidentified aircraft), 4-H, Campfire Girls, First United Methodist Church, PTA, Beta Sigma Phi, Ladies of the Elks, Eagles and Moose. She was an amazing seamstress and cook, famous for her peanut brittle which she made each Christmas. She loved flowers and gardening, knitting, walking, reading, crossword puzzles, watching football (especially the Beavers) and spending time with her family and friends. Those who knew her enjoyed her quick wit and her wealth of knowledge of the history of our community.

She is survived by her children, Marilee Beckley Carson (Ed) of Bend, and Bill Beckley of Bend; grandchildren, Ashley Carson Cottingham (Carroll), of Portland, Cole Carson of LA and Andrew Beckley (Kafiat) of Vancouver, WA; great-grandchildren, Alexis, Felana, and Aminah Beckley and Chester Cottingham; her sisters, Donna Hatfield (Jim) of Lincoln City and Dorothy Yates of Bend; and her many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Arden Learned and Glenn Learned, her sister Mardaneen Learned and half-sister Gertrude Learned.

A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held at the Moose Lodge in Bend at 1:00 p.m. on August 3, 2013.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Leukemia Society, 9320 SW Barbur Blvd., Suite 350, Portland, OR 97219.

Joan Beckley