OBITUARY: Joyce Anna Hickerson

Joyce Anna Hickerson passed away peacefully on July 16, 2024 surrounded by her family. She was 97 years old.

Joyce was born on November 22, 1926 in Kaukauna, WI, the second of five children. The family soon moved to Kelso, WA. After she graduated from Kelso High School she moved to Portland, OR to attend nursing school as a member of the World War II Cadet Nurse Corp through St. Vincent Medical Center, graduating from the University of Portland. She met the love of her life, William Charles (Chuck) Hickerson when he was in the Navy stationed in Portland to outfit the Victory Ship, Appleton. They married June 6, 1949 in Linnton, OR and were married 72 years before his death in 2021. They lived in Astoria, OR and Elkton OR, before settling in Arlington, OR where they lived for more than 50 years before moving to The Dalles. They raised six children.

After her youngest child graduated from high school, Joyce returned to school to update her nursing license and worked for Tri-County Home Health Care for many years. When Chuck retired, they -joined the Peace Corps, and after training they were off to Fiji where Joyce taught nursing students in Lautoka, Fiji. There they made many lifelong friends.

They returned from Fiji in 1984 and she continued to serve the Arlington community. Over the years she served on the city library board and steering committee, helped at the Arlington Food Pantry, served as a hospice volunteer, and was a 4-H leader. She was active in St. Francis Catholic Church.

Chuck was a member of The Oregon Jazz Band for 55 years and they enjoyed traveling around the West Coast to many Jazz Festival venues.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, son Charles A. , brothers James Gillen and Gerald Gillen and sisters Clarice Morris and Marian Lessard. She is survived by sons Richard C. (Kathleen), Gerald E. (Pamela), Patrick D., and Andrew W. and daughter Ruth DeLaRosa (Robert), 8 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 24, 2024 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Arlington, OR. Rosary will be at 10am and mass at 11am. Interment and reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to your favorite charities.