Joanne Meillon

Joanne Meillon

AUGUST 6, 1934

APRIL 6, 2014

Joanne was born in Portland, Ore. to parents Gertrude and Joseph Raymer. At a young age she moved to Seaside, Ore. with her parents, eventually graduating from Seaside High School as class valedictorian in 1952, and married her high school sweetheart, John (Jack) Phillips, that same year on Christmas Day.

She followed Jack to Europe, where he was serving with the U.S. Army, living in Germany for nearly three years. During their time there they welcomed their first child, Kathy, and had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe. Finally settling back in Seaside, they expanded their family with the birth of Kelli, Kevin, and Keith.

Joanne was a member of the United Methodist Church in Seaside, where she enjoyed singing in the choir and serving with other women in various volunteer activities.

In 1974, the family moved to the Monterey Peninsula, where she and Jack eventually divorced. Joanne worked at the Monterey Peninsula Golf & Country Club in Pebble Beach, where she met and later married Alfonso Meillon. She and Al eventually moved to San Francisco, both working at the St. Francis Yacht Club, and then moved once again to Santa Rosa, Calif. Joanne was an avid golfer, bowler and swimmer, and both were very active, enjoying many close friends and traveling extensively.

On Christmas 2001, just after singing "Oh Holy Night" as a member of a choir, she suffered a major stroke, leaving her forever paralyzed on her left side. She and Al soon after moved to Sparks, Nev., which was to be their final home together, and where Al gave his entire life to caring and loving Joanne. She was a gifted artist and loved both oil and watercolor painting before her stroke. With Al's encouragement, she learned to paint and write using her right hand thereafter.

On April 6, 2014, Joanne passed quietly away at 4 a.m. into Jesus' loving arms, now rejoined forever with her beloved Al, as the love story continues.

Joanne is survived by her children, Kathy Simmons (John), of Spokane, Wash., Kelli Craft, of Portland, Kevin Phillips (Julie) of Monterey, Calif., and Keith Phillips (Renee) of Sparks, Nev.; stepchildren, Mike Meillon, of San Francisco, and Michele Svane, of Oakland; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A joint mass honoring both Al and Joanne will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 12, 2014 at Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Cemetery in Reno, Nevada