On Saturday morning 26 October 2024, at Auburn Medical Center in WA, my sister, Joni Louise (Harshman) Hailey, passed away. She was 70 years old, born on 25 April 1954 in Norfolk, VA. She was a beautiful person and a caring and loving mother and sister, who loved dogs, horses, and all God’s creatures. In later years, she would taking in several older shelter dogs. She was nearly two years older than me so was charged with watching over me as we were growing up. Like me, she attended Sycamore Canyon Elementary in Santee, CA, Brookland Elementary in Spanaway, WA, Morris E. Ford Jr. High school, and Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma, WA. I have so many wonderful memories growing up, far too many to list. I remember one time we rode our bikes to a swap meet at the drive-in on 112th Street in Tacoma and bought two ducklings (male and female). We took them hope tucked in our sweaters and nursed them for a few weeks until they were ready to be released to our pond. They eventually had little ducklings and flew south for the winter, but came back the next year and ever since (presumably eventually their offspring). She had a beautiful voice and sang in the HS Choir and later in her church. She also played guitar and sang the Wedding Song at my wedding. Joni married Charles Ellis Lumpkin and had two Children, Matt and Danny. Chuck and Joni later divorced, but remained close. She later married again for a short time. Joni worked at various jobs throughout her life, from waitress to working in our family business. Her kind and loving heart, sense of humor, and fun nature will be greatly missed. Joni leaves behind her son Matt and his wife Koko, son Danny, his wife Chris, and their children Jordan and Josslyn, her brother (me), and numerous friends and family.
