Joan Francis Hamilton, age 72, of Rigby, passed away at The Gardens in Rigby, Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Joan was born Aug. 20, 1942 in Blackfoot, ID, to Clarence and Esther Annen. She grew up in Pingree, Springfield and Aberdeen and then graduated from Aberdeen High School.
She married Ed Fehringer in 1960 and they had two children, Jacqueline and Chris. They later divorced in 1983.
She married George Hamilton Feb. 4, 1989 in Pocatello, ID. She owned and operated Thora’s Travel Agency in Pocatello for 10 years and was involved in the travel business for 20 years. Her love of travel took her to many interesting countries, all over the United States, and cruising here, there, and everywhere. She was a member of the Pocatello Chamber of Commerce. Joan was a 4-H leader for 25 years and enriched the lives of hundreds of kids by teaching them self confidence, public speaking, cooking, and scrapbooking. After her service in Power and Jefferson counties, she was inducted into the Idaho 4-H Hall of Fame in 2005. She was a member of the Catholic Church.
She enjoyed scrap booking, making jewelry, sewing, quilting, cooking and making handmade chocolates. She also made horse supplies, blankets and accessories. Joan was an advanced master gardener, loving to work in her yard and garden. The biggest thrill of her life was watching her grandchildren play basketball, show 4-H projects, and compete in horse shows and rodeo. But even better than that, was bragging about them to everyone.
She is survived by her husband George Hamilton of Rigby; a daughter, Jacqueline (Rich) Meseroll of Chandler, AZ; a son, Chris Edward (Heather) Fehringer of American Falls; her mother, Esther Annen of Chandler, AZ; two sisters, Darlene (Jack) Finney of Henderson, NV, and Kathy (Butch) Stringer of Chandler, AZ; two brothers, Ron (Helen) Annen of Rockaway Beach, OR, and John (Mary) Annen of American Falls; and four grandchildren, Alyssa Meseroll, Troy Meseroll, Kimberlyn (Brody) Fitch and Chase Fehringer.
She was preceded in death by her father Clarence and brother Alvin.
Family will visit with friends on Wednesday evening, March 4, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 5, at the Hawker Funeral Home in Blackfoot at 11 a.m. Family will visit with friends prior to the service on Thursday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Grove City Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Hearts for Hospice or a charity of your choice. The family expresses their appreciation to her loving husband George, the staff at Hearts for Hospice and The Gardens Assisted Living Center for their wonderful care of Joan.
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