Joyce Diane Brown, 71, passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at the Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham, WA.  Joyce was born on June 22, 1953 in Alton, IL to Charles LeBaron Kasson, Jr. of Boston, MA and Irene Gladys May Dodd of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Charlie was a mechanical engineer who took assignments to new oil refineries around the world to lead the installation of controls and instrumentation.  The family, which included an older sister, lived in many places including Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad, BWI; Alton, IL; Cartagena, Spain; Grand Junction/Fruita, CO; Bombay, India; and Copenhagen, Denmark before settling down in Bellingham, WA in 1959.

Joyce graduated from Bellingham High School in 1971.  She attended Western Washington State College and graduated from Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA) in 1976 with a degree in Park Management.  Joyce was a camper from second grade, a 1969 & 1970 CIT (Counselor in Training), and a cabin counselor at Camp Kirby, a Camp Fire camp on Samish Island, which was dear to her heart.  She was also a member of the Camp Fire Girls, the Aseton Horizon Club, and the Wakumi Alumni.

On April 23, 1977, Joyce Diane Kasson married Burton 'Burt' Ray Brown at the Unity Church in Bellingham, WA.  They credit Burt's cousin, Gail (Pullar) Grossman, for introducing them to each other.

In the fall of 1977, Burt accepted his first permanent U.S. Forest Service position on the Olympic Peninsula.  Burt and Joyce moved to Quinault, WA, where she worked seasonally for the Olympic National Park.  In the fall of 1983, Burt accepted a promotion to the Mt. Baker Ranger District (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest) in Sedro-Woolley, WA.  Burt worked in the U.S. Forest Service office as an Engineering Technician.  Joyce worked at the Visitor Information desk as a Front Country Ranger for the North Cascades National Park in the same headquarters building.

They loved taking long walks with their dogs on the beaches, trails and mountains around Skagit County.  They also enjoyed their vacations camping and fishing for trout at Sun Cove Resort on Wannacut Lake in Eastern Washington.  Burt retired on January 1, 2011 after 37 years, and Joyce retired on August 31, 2011 with 32 years of government service.  Joyce and Burt celebrated 34 years together.  Burt passed away from a stroke on September 16, 2011 at the Skagit Valley Hospital in Mt. Vernon, WA.

Joyce looked forward to walking with friends and co-workers and taking Yoga classes after work.  After retirement, Joyce continued Yoga sessions with her friends.  She also loved walking and going to the dog park with Donnie and their dogs, and hiking on mountain and island trails with an Audubon hiking club.

Joyce found a wonderful partner in Donald 'Donnie' Bentz, a longtime friend of Burt's. They were together for 12 years with their Cocker Spaniels, Miss Daisy and Pickles, and cat, Calli Kitty.

Joyce is survived by her partner, Donnie Bentz of Sedro-Woolley, WA; sister, Helen (Jan) Van Lohuizen of Bow, WA; nephews, Kevin (Melissa) Van Lohuizen of Concord, CA, Rob (Brittany) Van Lohuizen of Sedro-Woolley, WA, Tim (LeaAnn) Van Lohuizen of Coeur d'Alene, ID; grand-nieces, Emily Van Lohuizen, Aubi and Maddi Van Lohuizen, Brooke (Daniel) Sasser; and numerous cousins in the U.S. and Canada.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Burt;  her parents, Charles and Irene Kasson.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00, on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at the Samish Island Community Center (11292 Blue Heron Road, Bow, WA).  Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited.  Please bring memories and photos to share.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joyce Brown may be made to the Camp Fire Samish office (1321 King Street, Ste. 3, Bellingham, WA  98229).  Cremation arrangements were by Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.  She was laid to rest with her husband in the Urn Garden at the Union Cemetery, Sedro-Woolley, WA. Share your memories of  Joyce and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com