Evaleen Joan Whealdon Ames

I was born in McGowan, WA Nov. 22, 1929, into the loving family of Daniel and Evelyn Whealdon. I grew up in my parents’ Chinook, WA home with my brother Jack, sister Jean Hornig and Grammy Coyle. My siblings and I shared a happy childhood in our small town near the mouth of the Columbia River.

I attended Ilwaco High School and graduated from WSU in 1952 where I met Lawrence Ames, my wonderful college sweetheart and husband of 58 years.
I was a stay-at-home mom until I went to work for the Everett Public Library in 1977, and began driving the Bookmobile in 1981.

I greatly enjoyed driving the Bookmobile and meeting many wonderful people. I retired in 1995 and Larry and I embarked on many trips to picturesque and historical places.

My love of travel and the outdoors began while I was working at Paradise Lodge and climbing Mt. Rainier in 1950. I danced through journeys from the top of Rainier to the floor of the Grand Canyon, from the Dolomites to the Dalmatian Coast.
 
I filled my life with music, art and the theater; it all gave me great joy. It's a very beautiful world, (Louie, you sang it so well). I've been blessed with a wonderful life – there are so many people to thank – my loving parents and grandmother, my husband, our five wonderful kids and their spouses and our grandchildren and all our extended family and friends.

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Joan did many things to help those faced with great challenges in their lives. While driving the bookmobile, she was a strong advocate of those with limited mobility and put forth great effort in providing thoughtful and caring service to others.

After retiring, she was very active in the Mukilteo community, volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul, St. John's Catholic Church, Friends of the Library, the Mukilteo Historical Society and various school programs.

Joan began her next journey in the early dawn of July 6. We saw a brilliant waning crescent moon and a glorious sunrise on this tranquil morning in Mukilteo with a cloudless dawn and calm air, a rare day here in the Northwest.

It was a day she would have cherished and would have enjoyed in the garden or on her daily walk.

"God to me is in the out of doors - the beauty of our mountains, our water, our sunsets and moonlit nights, when we can see them! All that beauty is where I see my God and get my spiritual strength."

God has given Joan a beautiful gift on her last day with us, a wonderful day without comparison for a blessed daughter, sister, wife, and mother of this beautiful land.

She is survived by her husband Larry Ames, their five children and spouses; Gaylen and Mike, Monica and Frank, John and Jan, Ann, and David and Diane, grandchildren Ryan and Leslie Hasson, Sara Hasson, Katie McGuire, Garth Ames, Walt Ames, and Zoe Miller; her brother Jack Whealdon, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to one of her favorite charities: Planned Parenthood, The Nature Conservancy, or St. Vincent de Paul.

Joan and her family extend special thanks to the wonderful and gifted people at Providence Hospice for their kindness and expert care. Memorial service is 10 a.m. Friday, July 16, at St John’s Catholic Church, 829 Third St., Mukilteo.