Our beloved mother, JoAnn Coffey Graybeal was born February 6, 1929, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Mary Josephine Coffey and Maynard Hamilton Coffey. She was the first of their two children. She passed away in Stanwood, Washington surrounded by family, on September 1, 2022.

Mom moved from Indiana to Aurora, Illinois with her family when she was young. She graduated in 1947 from Aurora High School. Shortly after graduation the family, including JoAnn and her younger sister Shirley, moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where she began working as a keypunch operator. It was in Fort Worth that she met Roy Douglas Graybeal, an Air Force veteran. They married in February of 1954 and began a series of moves that took them to many different states. JoAnn always said her favorite of all the places the family lived was northwestern Washington and it was here she stayed with their five children after the couple divorced in 1974, living first in Marysville and then in Edmonds, Washington.

After many years of moves and homemaking, JoAnn returned to work in 1972, and began a 20-pius year career in data processing. After retiring from the Ceridian Corporation in Seattle, she moved to Mount Vernon, Washington. There she found joy working as a volunteer for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. However, she often said that her greatest happiness was in raising her children, Diane, Deborah, Susan, Karen, and Douglas.

Mom was a quiet person with a wonderful sense of humor and an infectious laugh. She enjoyed reading needlework, playing board games and attending family events. For several years she sang with Sweet Adelines, putting her lovely voice to good use. She enjoyed attending live musical or theatrical performances, especially if they involved a member of her family. Though not a sports fan, she was an enthusiastic attendee if her grandchildren were participating, sitting through many horse shows. meets and games and clapping enthusiastically even if she was not exactly sure what was going on. She particularly loved being a grandparent to her grandchildren: Emily and Robyn Kelley. Drew and Christopher Shreve, Gavin, and Quinton Graybeal. They each carry special memories of time spent with their much-loved grandma. Mom was also one of those special mothers-in-law who maintained close friendships with her son-in-law, Pat Shreve, and her daughter-in-law, Gayle Graybeal.

AS age limited Mom's ability to live on her own, she eventually moved from her own home to family homes and then to Josephine Caring Community in Stanwood, where she received excellent care and support for many years, right up to the time of her passing. She is survived and remembered by her family: children Diane, Debbie, Susan (Pat), Karen, Doug (Gayle), grandchildren Emily (Ashley). Robyn (Abe), Drew, Chris, Gavin, Quinn, her great-grandchildren Stryder, Bernadette, Ruby. Remy, Tallulah. as well as by her friend Joyce and her sister Shirley (Rex) and extended family in Texas.

Among the life lessons she taught us are that it is easier to love than to hate. to forgive than to hold a grudge and to live each day as the best version of yourself. Remembrance of her will be a private family event full of laughter, food, and reminiscing.