Joan Joyce Kidder

Joan Joyce Stielow Kidder passed away on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at Salmon Creek Legacy Hospital. She was born on 2/13/1931 in Russell, Kansas and was 88 years old at the time of her death. Joyce was a 1953 graduate of St. Luke's School of Nursing in Denver, CO and spent her career as an OBGYN nurse, working for Dr's McMakin and Campbell and then in the Labor and Delivery department at Vancouver Memorial Hospital. On March 1, 1953 she married Robert W. Kidder and moved to Vancouver, WA where she spent the rest of her life. Joyce is survived by her four children, Cynthia Kidder, David Kidder, Gwyn Bateman and Cathy Vincent as well as by 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Her passions and joys included singing in Sweet Adelines, sewing and playing her piano. She was also a volunteer reading tutor at Sacajawea Elementary School and a greeter at Salmon Creek Methodist Church. In 2015 she moved into assisted living at Bonaventure and then, due to dementia, in May 2018 she had to move into an adult foster home. The family wish to express their gratitude to Joanna Paul and her staff at Salmon Creek Best Senior Care for the conscientious and compassionate care Joyce received during her time there. Joyce touched the lives of so many - from the expecting mothers she assisted, the babies she helped bring into the world, the children she tutored and the people she welcomed into her church. As a mother, she was a loving, supportive, encouraging, protecting and anchoring presence. She will be missed by many.