Joan Leilani Williamson

Joan Leilani “Tutu” LocheadWilliamson passed away peacefully on July 31, 2019, at the age of 92. Joanie was born in Hana, Maui, Hawaii on June 15, 1927, to proud parents John (Jack) Stuart and Nel (née Buckner) Lochead. She was born under the sign of Gemini and in fact, was born a twin. Ever the entrepreneurs, Jack and Nel went to Hawaii in the mid-‘20’s along with Jack’s brother to start a photography business. They lived both on Maui and in Honolulu. Joanie was joined by younger sister Dona in Hawaii. When Joanie was 8 they moved back to Salem, Oregon. There the Lochead Family enjoyed an active social and community-oriented life. Her third sister, Gail, was born to the family. A popular student, Joanie graduated from Salem High School in 1945. She matriculated to the University of Oregon to pursue a major in journalism. At the end of her freshman year, Joanie was set up on a blind date with a dashing young man who had returned from serving our country in the South Pacific during World War II. Hubert (Hubie) Williamson had left the University of Oregon after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and joined the Navy. He was a signalman on Ghia Island and when the war was over he came back to finish his last semester. Joanie (did we mention she was popular) had a date for that night but canceled telling her date she wasn’t feeling well. She and Hubie went to the movies and ran into her original date. Upon seeing Joanie he said, “That was a quick recovery”. Mom stayed friends with that fellow but married Hubie. A union that lasted 56 years, until Hubie’s death from Alzheimer’s in 2003. Joanie and Hubie married in Salem in 1947 and moved to Long Beach, California. There they had their first son, John. They went on to have two more sons, Peter, and Thomas (the three oldest known as “ The Boys”), a daughter Nancy and son Robert. Joanie was a wonderful mother and a supportive wife. Hubie’s career took the family from Southern California, back to Salem, back to Southern California, San Francisco, Baltimore, Maryland, Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Burlington, North Carolina. The “Williamson Road Show” ended when they retired in Wilmington, North Carolina. Over the years she never shied away from part-time jobs to help make ends meet…working in a bakery, a florist shop (where she was particularly talented at flower arranging) but the coolest job she had was as a crossing guard for the Baltimore County Police Department. And she was good at it. If we had had YouTube back then she’d be on it. Joanie was active in the Episcopal Church all of her life (Sunday School and Flower Guild, in particular) She made sure we all got to church and it was an important part of our family life. Especially since we moved so often, the church was a familiar place. Getting us all up and ready was no small feat but Mom always found a way. One Sunday morning Dad was in the driveway with The Boys in the car. Mom was in the house still getting ready for church. Dad honked the horn for her to hurry up. Although she was ready and just about to walk out the door, she went back into the bedroom, took off her dress and walked out the door in her slip….he never honked the horn again… Everywhere they moved Joanie lovingly raised the kids, was active in their schools, got everyone to sporting events, cub scouts, brownies, dance, you name it. She made friends for herself and the family wherever they went and as they moved from place to place she kept all of the friends she made. Did we say she was popular…well, the reason is Joanie was the most fun-loving, friendly, outgoing person one could meet. She didn’t know a stranger and she always put herself out there… Newcomers Club, Welcome Wagon, Garden Club, PTA. Her outlet from all of these was responsibilities was as an artist. Her medium most of her life was oils but she also loved watercolors, charcoal drawing, pen and ink, even magic markers..she didn’t care, she just loved to draw. Later in life with the help ofTom, Nancy and Robert she started a greeting card business… Cards by Joanie. Greeting cards made from her original artwork.Mom was also an avid reader. Whenever we asked her a question or wondered about something Mom usually had the answer and when we said Mom how did you know that she would always reply…I just read it somewhere… Joanie was a wonderful wife, mother, and homemaker.Our mother was the greatest mother that we could have ever had and the reason we know that is, with five kids, each one of us was her favorite. Joanie lived the last 3 ½ years of her life at Oakleaf Village in Lexington, SC. The staff, caregivers and ultimately hospice gave her excellent care and love. They became our extended family, caring and loving Joanie and making sure that her years there were happy, healthy and productive. Joanie, lovingly known as Tutu to her 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren (Tutu is Hawaiian for Grandmother), was predeceased by her loving husband, Hubert Lee (Hubie) Williamson, and her sisters, Jean, Dona and Gail. She is survived by her son John, wife Amy, granddaughterBecky (Adam), grandsonTommy (Cassie),Joy (mother of Becky and Tommy), and grandson, Nick; son Peter, wife Susie, grandson Tim (Charlotte); son, Tom, wife Diane, granddaughter Courtney (Travis), granddaughter Daisy(Nathan), grandson Robbie (Andrea); daughter, Nancy, husband Steve, granddaughter Christine, granddaughter Kelly (Antonio), granddaughter Kendall; son Robert, wife Ellie. Great-grandchildren Mark, Owen, Liam, Harper, Emery, Flynn, Aurora, Ivey, Hailey, and Charlie. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice or please consider making a donation to The Alzheimer’s Association. Https://www.Alz.org.Click on donate and you will be prompted to make it in “Memory of” Joan Williamson.Nancy’s address is 158 Tagline Way Sylva, NC 28779. Dad died of Alzheimer’s and mom was very supportive of the organization over the years.” A memorial service for Joanie will be held at a later date.