Joan “Jojo” Abbott was born in Kalispel, Mont. April 16, 1932, to Chet and Jeanette Stringfellow. She passed away from age-related illness Jan. 15, 2024, at the age of 91, surrounded by her family.
What do you say to sum up a person’s life, especially someone who led such a robust and full life. Jojo was a multi-faceted person, she did and saw so many things throughout her life — and she meant so much to all those who knew her. She was the pillar in our family. There are so many words, experiences, and love that was shared with our Jojo, that it is just not possible to summarize her life in a few short words.
Joan walked many avenues in life, lived in many places, and played the part in many roles. She was a wife, a daughter, a mom, a grandma, a sister, an aunt and a friend to so many. She went by many names, but mostly we knew her as mom, as Jojo, and as Auntie Joan. She was always active, an adventurer at heart, traveling the globe often. No one could keep up with this extraordinarily spry woman. Nothing could stop her. She loved life, but most of all she loved her family and she loved God.
Joan moved to Clarkston from Walla Walla in 1969, where she lived and worked as a caregiver, then as a receptionist for the DSHS until her retirement 20 years later. She moved back to Walla Walla and spent the last several years with her partner Jim Irwin, before moving back to Clarkston in 2022.
Joan was devoted to her faith, attending church at Faith Tabernacle for most of her life without fail, and in later years she attended Gateway Church alongside her family.
She loved deeply. For having such an immense family, she somehow always knew how to comfort and make each of us feel individually special and unique. Through her voice and actions, she taught her family kindness, strength, humor, generosity, perseverance, fearlessness, and calmness. She was a force to reckon with. She was fiercely loyal; someone you could count on; a person who always had your back. If you needed someone, Jojo was there for you.
Joan loved to entertain. She was always up for any adventure, and game for whatever we threw her way. Always just rolling with the flow. She was a lady of fashion, and always had her hair done up and her lipstick on — ready to face whatever the day would bring.
Joan was also a notorious trickster and a pro at playing pranks, but was much too clever to fall for them no matter how much anyone tried — she would see right through them.
She was an Elvis fan thru-and-thru, she truly appreciated that man and his music. She loved musicals, shoes, jewelry, scrabble, good food and a good sale. She also enjoyed spending time at the casino with her family hoping to win the “big” prize.
She was preceded in death by her parents Chet and Jeanette Stringfellow, her daughter Teresa Jo, and her brothers Bill and Lenny.
She is survived by her daughters Vicky and Pam, her son’s Rusty and Mike, her sister Janis, and so many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She deeply loved each and every one of them.
Our family has been blessed to have Jojo in our lives, and are comforted to know she is at peace in Heaven. We will forever treasure the times we had with her, the memories made and the crazy antics we got up too. Most of all we will always strive to be like her, to hold close the advice she gave, and to live the qualities she instilled in us — but always doing it in true Jojo style … with our lipstick in hand.
Jojo will be laid to rest in Kalispel, MT with her family. A memorial is planned for later this year in Montana. In lieu of flowers, family asks that donations be made to the Salvation Army. Please take a moment to visit her on-line book of memories memorial at: mtviewfuneralhome.com and leave a photo, a video or a few words in memory of this beautiful lady.
The family is grateful for the staff at Lewiston Transitional Care of Cascadia, and for their gentle care and compassion they gave Jojo during her time there.
