Aug. 15, 1928 – Oct. 13, 2017
Joanne Claribel Imeson was born in Seattle and spent summers in Indianola where her parents had a summer home and where she retained a home until her death. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle in 1946 and married John Bailey in 1948. After their children were in school, Joanne pursued a teaching degree at PLU and worked as a schoolteacher in Olympia from 1965-1979.
Joanne then fully embraced her love of sailing and, following several Pacific crossings on others’ boats, she lived aboard her own 30’ sailboat Sea Witch in Friday Harbor for ten years, co-authoring the Gunkholing cruising guides whilst also working as a journalist for the local newspaper.
Joanne moved to Port Townsend in 2009 and became active in AAUW, volunteering in the elementary school reading program. She participated in several community activites including family orchestra and, in recent years, in swim exercise class and lap swimming. Joanne continued to maintain a presence in Indianola while living in Port Townsend and introduced her new friends to the place she always considered her “real home.”
Joanne always enjoyed travel and visited, among other places, China, Poland, Samoa, Tonga, Turkey, Norway, and Scotland.
Joanne is survived by her five children, Megan Bailey, Robin Gould, Debi Bailey, John Bailey, Bill Bailey, nine grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned in Port Townsend, 1-4pm on Dec 9, at the Northwest Maritime Center.
