Joan Webb

Jerome- Joan L. Webb, 84, of Jerome, left us to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 14, 2016, from a sudden heart attack. She was born January 9, 1932, in Andover, Massachusetts, the oldest of nine children. Due to being only slightly older, she was often given the job of surrogate mother to her other siblings. From this early responsibility, she remained responsible and caring for other people all of her life. In her early years, she spoke only French as her parents were French-Canadian and spoke only French to her until realizing their daughter had to learn English for school. After that they spoke only English to her and she lost her ability to speak French, which she always regretted. Joan excelled in her school studies and early on set her sights on becoming a nurse. She graduated from a four year curriculum at Lowell, Massachusetts General Hospital and worked as a surgical and pediatric R.N. in two Massachusetts hospitals. In those days, nurses worked their way through nurses training paying their way by "On-The-Job" training.

Joan's father obtained an appointment for her to the United States Navy through a local Senator and she was Commissioned a Navy Nurse in the early 50's. Following a short stint in a New York Naval Hospital, she transferred to one in Charleston, South Carolina. She and three other nurses drove to South Carolina during a hurricane, which was an experience. While working at the Naval Hospital in Charleston, she met her future husband, William E. "Bill" Webb, a Navy Hospital Corpsman, (an enlisted man), which of course presented military problems as the Navy frowned on a commissioned Lieutenant dating an enlisted Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class. The problems were eventually worked out and they were married and eventually settled in Bill's native Idaho, and as they say, "the rest is history." They lived in Oregon for two years while Bill finished college and she continued working as a nurse. They returned to Idaho where Bill worked as a biologist for the Idaho Fish and Game Dept. and Joan worked at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise for 13 years, most of the time as Assistant Director of Nursing.

In 1973, they moved to Jerome with their four children where Bill continued his work with the Fish and Game Dept., and Joan devoted her time to her family. She also enjoyed her hobbies, especially antique decorating, yard work and gardening. Joan and Bill were inseparable and spent much time together traveling, camping, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing and for 12 years, golfing.

In her younger years, she was quite active in her church and very devout in her Catholic faith. Her health became somewhat of a problem in her last years and slowed her down considerably.

Joan is survived by her husband, Bill Webb of Jerome; their son, Richard and his family of Reno; their daughters, Yvonne and Cheryl of Amity, Maine; her sisters Elaine, Anne, Mary and Claire and her brothers John and George and many extended family members and friends. She is preceded in death by a daughter, Claire. At Joan's request, no services will be held, just prayers from family and friends. Arrangements are under the care of Farnsworth Mortuary of Jerome, Idaho.