Joan Armstrong

I worked with Joan at Skagit Valley. They hired me to be head tennis coach for both the men´s and women´s teams while Joan worked as assistant coach. Of course she could have been head coach but wanted to spend more time with her family. It was a joy to work with her. She was smart, funny, kind, and tough. I think of her often.

Dear Fellow Joan Friends and Family,

I join you in deep sorrow in your loss of one special soul. I hope that after the tears stop flowing so frequently that we are able to live our lives a little more like Joan would want us to, with more joy and a whole lot of love to be shared freely. What a woman. Such a gift to all of us and proof that good things indeed do come in small packages. Hang in there everyone. Love to all, Heather
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxx

I met Joannie in 1961. She became a friend of myself and my family. I knew Doug and Georgia Armstrong who also knew my grandmother, Georgia Johnson, who grew up in the LaConner area.

Joannie taught me to play field hockey and tennis. She expected hard work and excellence from her students, but was kind and compassionate when determined effort was made. She encouraged me when I needed it and believed in me when I doubted myself.

She loved seeing her students succeed, grow and...

Coach - there was nobody like you and nobody will ever fill the spot in my heart that is empty now that your are gone. Your faith, wisdom, positive attitude and loving heart have left an impact on me and my family that will be everlasting. Thank you for being so special every day of the last 27 years I got to spend with you. We will miss you more than you can know.

I was also one of Joan's SVC athletes. She became a very important person in my life very shortly after I met her.

She has also been a very important person in the lives of my husband, Glen, as well as our daughter, Gabrielle Joan. Yes, Gabrielle was named after Joan. Joan often laughed about her name only being used when Gabrielle was in trouble, as in "Gabrielle Joan, stop misbehaving."

One of Gabrielle's favorite activities as a child was to stand next to her "Mama Joan"...

The world was a friendlier place with Joan Armstrong in it.

Joan Armstrong
Was one of the nicest people I ever
met at SVC...she was my instructor for a first aid class., she said she would trust me to save her any time..what a compliment...I think she said that to all her students..
She will be missed by all who knew her.

Coach had such an impact on my life and was such an excellent role model. I would love to have an ounce of the faith and compassion she had for everyone. She was truly and inspiration to everyone she met. Coach will always be in our hearts. Although, she is not physically present her spirit will remain with us always.
Kath Silverthorn

Coach had such an impact on my life and was the best role model. I wish I could have an ounce of the faith she had and the compassion she had for everyone. She truly was an inspiration to everyone that she ever met and she will be missed but will always be in our hearts. Coach may be gone in her physical presence but her spirit remains with us forever.
Kath Silverthorn