Obituary of Joan L. Smythe

Joan Marie Baker Lund Smythe, 81, passed away peacefully at home in Olympia, Washington, on June 17, 2018. She was born April 13, 1937 in Medford, Oregon, to Cletis Lee Baker and H. Marie (Goodwill) Bruce. 

In 1955, Joan graduated as salutatorian from Shelton High School, and was crowned Forest Festival Princess.  She was a proud member of the Honor Society, Drama Club and Band, in which she played trumpet.

Joan married Donald Lund in 1955 and they had two children.  They later divorced and she married her beloved Stuart Smythe in 1988.  They celebrated their 30^th anniversary in April 2018.

Joan worked as a school administrator until her retirement.  She then attended The Evergreen State College and earned her BA in 1993.  She joined the Olympia New Horizons Band as a charter member in 1999, playing first chair trumpet until health issues caused her to retire. She also played with the Tacoma New Horizons Band.

Joan was a kind, gentle person who loved flowers, animals, and walks in the woods.  She also loved to travel.  She and Stuart visited Ireland, Scotland, Cook Islands, Hawaii, New England, and numerous National Parks.  Joan enjoyed the co-pilot seat on trips to the San Juan Islands, Oregon, and California.

Joan was preceded in death by her mother, father, and brother, Buddy Lund.  She is survived by her husband, Stuart Smythe; sister-in-law, Tove Lund; daughter, Taryn Lund; son, Todd Lund (Shannon); and grandson, Devin Dickman (Bethany).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Virginia Mason Cancer Institute (Oncology) Seattle/Virginia Mason Foundation online at https://connect.virginiamasonfoundation.org/donate, or Providence SoundHome Care and Hospice, 4200 6th Ave. SE, Suite 201, Lacey, WA 98503 or online at https://washington.providence.org/donate.

A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, July 10, 2018, 11:00 a.m. at South Sound Manor, 455 North St. SE, Tumwater, WA 98501.