Joan Avis Schur

28-Feb-13

Joan Avis Schur Obituary (Age 75) Joan passed away among family in Spokane, WA on Thursday Feb 28th 2013. She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years Greg, sons Russell and Dane, daughter-in-law Cyndy, grandchildren Adrian, Ashley, Chelsea, Julee, Johnny and Geoffrey. Joan also leaves behind another large wing of family in England consisting of her sole surviving brother Mickey and numerous others including sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces. Goll/Golly as she was called in Britain will join her mother Alice Fox, father Arthur Fox, and brothers Tubbs, Jimmy and Alan in eternal peace. As a child Joan grew up in Oxfordshire and her family endured the hardships of WWII as many British did. She was a red haired beauty who was good in school and athletics. She later gained employment in the city of Oxford where she met her future husband Greg who was serving as an American Airman at RAF Brize Norton. Married July of 1963, they brought up sons Russell and Dane while residing at numerous air bases in the U.S., England and Italy. Despite the extensive traveling duties of a military wife, Joan would always keep in touch with all family members and friends via phone, letters and her "famous" Christmas cards which numbered in the hundreds (sent and received) year after year until her medical issues in her later years. She motivated Greg during his long combat tour in Vietnam with constant letters from England. After Greg's retirement from the USAF at Fairchild in 1977 the family took up residence in Spokane. Joan worked for several years as an office manager and friend to the Humphrey family of B&B driving school. Among other endeavors, she ran a private cleaning service for many years. Eventually Joan became a Property Manager at Canterbury Court, an elderly apartment complex, for Kiemle & Hagood Realty. In her 15 years of managing at Canterbury she not only excelled at her job but genuinely cared for hundreds of residents and touched the lives of so many people. She was known for her English accent, giving personality and endless work ethic. Joan constantly checked on ailing residents and visited many at local hospitals and nursing homes on her own personal time. Due to extensive medical ailments including Lupus and Diabetes, Joan was forced to retire early. Despite suffering thru many life threatening hospitalizations and constant pain, she fought hard to live on for her family sometimes amazing the medical community. Joan would eventually take residence at Alderwood Manor which became a "home away from home" where she was greatly cared for and acquired another "family". The Schur family would like to thank all the staff at Alderwood for their care and work as well as the many doctors, nurses and staff who treated Joan at local hospitals and other medical facilities. Also, a special thanks and love to longtime friends, Janet, Muriel, Mary Joe and longtime personal doctor Bernadine Bender. Joan will always be remembered in our minds, prayers and hearts. Her unwavering love and loyalty to family and friends, strong spirit and treatment of others will serve as examples for us to live our lives by. Ta Ta wife, mum, and grandma. We love you! You were a smasher and "British to the bone".