Dorothea Joan Robertson Briggs, of Payson, Utah, passed away Monday, March 23, 2015 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the age of 81, surrounded by her loving family.
Joan was born Oct. 18, 1933 in Fort Frances, Ont. 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 on May 18, 1957 while Gene was stationed in the U.S. 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, and Parkview Community Hospital (Riverside). She worked mostly in Emergency Room and Labor & Delivery.
In 1978, they moved to Payson, where 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, Wash. and 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; 21 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and her only sister, Gail (Wayne) Lowes.
She was predeceased by her eternal sweetheart and her parents.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, March 25, 2015 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Funeral services will be held Friday April 3, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the LDS Church at 711 South 600 East in Payson, Utah.
A gathering for family and friends will be held Thursday, April 2, 2015 from 6–9 p.m. and again Friday, April 3, 2015 at 10 a.m.
Interment will be in the Payson City Cemetery.
Online condolences may be offered at www.premierfuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to Primary Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
