Joan LaVonne Schmelzer

Joan LaVonne Schmelzer

Born in Clatskanie on April 21, 1935, to Charles and Dorothy Melis, of Nehalem Valley pioneer families, Joan passed away peacefully November 24, 2024, in Clatskanie.

Joan spent much of her childhood on the Wallace and Melis farms in Mist. She graduated from high school in Port Orford, where “boney Joanie” was a yell leader and student body treasurer. In her youth, she worked as a Firewatch on Grizzley Fire Lookout in Curry County for Coos FPA. She was a Switchboard Operator in Astoria with the telephone service and met and married David Schmelzer in 1959. She raised her family in Clatsop County and lived in Youngs River. 

After divorce, she fished the f/v Cinnabar & the f/v Elvi K with the Pacific Tuna Fleet that included trips to New Zealand, Tahiti & Hawaii. In her retirement, she returned to the Firewatch job again, with Coos FPA. From her lookout on Bosely Butte in Curry County she called in the Biscuit Burn, one of the largest forest fires in Oregon history. Her last home was in Agness, Oregon, on the Rogue River, before her daughter, Darcy, moved her to Westport, Oregon, to be close for her final years.

Joanie is survived by her three daughters, Shawn Schmelzer (Michael Kaufman) of Milwaukie, Peggy (John) Young of Naselle and Darcy (Allen) Sutfin of Westport, two grandchildren, Craig (Dawn) Fruehling of Naselle and Jessica (Dylan) McCoy of Warrenton and four great-grandchildren Scot, Ila, Everett & Stevin.

A celebration of Joanie's life will be held on Saturday, December 21st at 11:30 am to 2:30 pm at the Bridge Water Bistro Loft in Astoria, Oregon.

A private burial is planned in spring at the Pioneer Cemetery in Mist, Oregon.