Joann Bessie Carlton

Joann Bessie Humphrey was born in Eugene, Oregon on August 8, 1921. She was the youngest of three children born to George L. and Bessie Hearn Humphrey. She was the first in her family to be born in a hospital, a fact of which she was proud. Her family moved to Portland where she attended Llewellyn Grade School and graduating from Washington High. One of her many activities was 4H. When she was 14, she met a boy named Ray Carlton who was attracted to her very blond hair. Eventually, they married and had two children, Michael (who predeceases her) and Kathy. It was a 62 year long love story ending in Ray’s death in 1997. Joann taught Sunday school at Moreland Presbyterian Church, was a den mother for both Cub and Boy Scouts, and a Blue Bird leader. Every year she served as Room Mother for her children. She was involved in PTA and active in Mothers’ March of Dimes. She volunteered hundreds of hours at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital both in the playroom and in hand making thousands of “Hero Badges” for children undergoing painful treatments. She was honored for her work as “KATU’s Hero of the Week.” Joann and Ray travelled many exotic places: they travelled the Amazon River, through the Panama Canal, and the Inside Passage in Alaska. They visited the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Fiji, and Hawaii. She died Monday, July 6 very peacefully at her home. She was surrounded by family and friends, just one month shy of her 94th birthday. She is survived by her daughter, Kathy Hillman of Portland, 5 grandchildren, a newborn great-great grandson, and 5 nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life Birthday Party will be held on her 94th birthday. Service Information