Joan Briggs' Obituary
Dorothea Joan Robertson Briggs of Payson, Utah died 23 March 2015 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the age of 81, surrounded by her loving family. Joan was born October 18, 1933 in Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada to Andrew Clarke and Kathleen Janet Sullivan Robertson. As a young girl she learned how to work hard, cooking and cleaning at her grandparents’ fishing camp on Rainy Lake. She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 12 when her mother diligently searched to find the true church, which would have the Melchizedek Priesthood. After graduating from Fort Frances High School, Joan attended nursing school at Port Arthur General Hospital. While on vacation from school an LDS missionary from Utah convinced her she should move to Salt Lake City to find a man who could marry her in an LDS temple. After graduating from nursing school she rode the bus to Salt Lake City accompanied by the returning missionary. They were engaged a week after arriving in Utah. Joan married Gene Briggs in the Los Angeles LDS temple May 18, 1957, while Gene was stationed in the Navy at Treasure Island. Upon Gene’s release from the Navy, they made their home in Southern California (Long Beach, Cypress, and Norco). Joan was employed as a registered nurse at Long Beach Hospital Norwalk Community Hospital, Parkview Community Hospital (Riverside). She worked mostly in Emergency Room and Labor & Delivery. In 1978 they moved to Payson, Utah. There Joan taught future medical assistants both medical and life skills. Joan spent the last year and a half of her life living with her son, first in Kirkland, Washington, then in Puerto Rico. Gene and Joan raised four children: Kathryn (Dirk) Van Wagoner, Andrew Briggs, Karen (Brynn) Duncan, and Jennifer (Heath) Jolley. They also welcomed to their loving home a foster daughter, Sha (Gordon) Fields.
Joan lived a life of service, sharing her knowledge, skills, time, talents, and wisdom to all in need. In her spare time, she was a Girl Scout troop leader, Cub Scout den mother, piano teacher, cake decorator, quilter, seamstress, genealogist, family historian, and her children’s cheerleader. Having grown up on a lake, Joan loved being in, on, or near the water, whether lakes, rivers, or oceans. She and Gene owned a pleasure boat and made many trips to Catalina Island and the Colorado River. Joan was a strong, independent woman who encouraged everyone to achieve their full potential. She faced her diagnosis of liver cancer with great strength, faith, and a cheerful attitude.
Joan is survived by her children, twenty-one grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren, and her only sister Gail (Wayne) Lowes. She was preceded in death by her eternal sweetheart and her parents.
A memorial service was held March 25, 2015 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 am, Friday, April 3, 2015 at the LDS Church at 711 South 600 East, Payson, Utah. A gathering for family and friends will be held at the church on Thursday evening 6:00 – 9:00 pm and Friday prior to services at 10:00 am. Burial will be in the Payson City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift may be made to Primary Children’s Hospital Foundation.
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