Joanna Louise Kirk

Joanna passed away peacefully at Madrone Hospice in Yreka on June 26, 2014 after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born Joanna Louise Gibbons on Feb 4, 1936 to Jack and Lettie Gibbons. They lived in San Francisco and Woodside during Joanna’s early years until her family left their life in the bay area to embark on an adventure in rural Northern California. They moved from a comfortable suburban life in Woodside to a farmhouse in Montague. Joanna attended schools in Montague and Yreka and graduated from Yreka high school in 1954. She then went to study at Chico State and graduated with a degree in art. Immediately following that, she took another great leap and traveled by herself to Europe. She spent time in Switzerland and England. She traveled and worked there for several months. In the months before her death, Joanna was fortunate enough to visit with many friends and family. She even reconnected with friends she had lost touch with years before. While she never had children of her own, she was the devoted aunt of Nancy Perriera, Lora Fults, Michael Gibbons and Sean Gibbons and was a very present part of their lives. She was also close to her great niece and nephews, Stephen Perriera, Jesse Perriera, Jack Fults, Jenna Fults and Byron Gibbons. She was passionate about art and always enjoyed visiting galleries, reading about art, and was an accomplished painter herself. She was also known as an avid gardener. She lived and worked in San Francisco for many years before moving back to Yreka to open a frame shop and art supply store with her sister-in-law, Jean Gibbons. The shop was originally named “Yreka Gallery” because the location of the shop was the former “Yreka Bakery” on Miner Street. They then changed the name to “Yreka Framing Company” and moved to a bigger location on Broadway. She continued to operate the shop very successfully for over twenty years until she retired. During that time she made many wonderful friends that she always held dear. Joanna was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Lettie and her sister Susan. She is survived by her brother, John Gibbons and his wife Jean, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and many lifelong friends. One friend who grew up next door to the Gibbon’s family and was “another brother” to them and especially close to Joanna was Richard Crawford of Ojai. She also leaves behind numerous cousins that she was very close to all her life and many, many good friends, too numerous to name here but who were all very special to her. At Joanna’s request, there will be a celebration of her life at a later date. Joanna’s entire family and friends are extremely grateful to the wonderful support and comfort given by Madrone Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please send any contributions to Madrone Hospice at 255 Collier Circle, Yreka, CA 96097.

Joanna Louise Kirk

February 4, 1936 - June 26, 2014