Joan Marie Toon

Mrs. Joan Marie Toon (Harvey), beloved mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, passed away peacefully Nov. 1, 2023, at her home in West Linn, surrounded by her loving family. She was 97. Joan was born June 9, 1926, in Norwalk, Conn., the oldest of Thomas and Florence (Frost) Harvey's four children. She was raised in Rye, N.Y., and graduated from Rye High School in 1944. Joan attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and eventually became a registered pediatric nurse. After starting her nursing career in New York City, she accepted a position in 1951 at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, where she met Dr. Robert "Bob" Toon, a surgical resident. In 1953, Dr. Toon, a WWII Navy veteran, was recalled for the Korean conflict. Joan and Bob were married two weeks later and relocated to San Francisco, where the first of their seven children, daughter Bonnie Jean, was born in early 1954. Later that year, Joan and Bob returned to Minneapolis so Bob could continue his medical studies, and it was there that son Brian, and later daughter Mary, were born. In 1958, Bob was accepted into residency in thoracic surgery in his home state of Oregon, and the growing Toon family settled in Portland's Irvington Neighborhood, where they lived until 1984. During this period, Joan worked part-time as a nurse at Doernbecher Children's Hospital while Bob built his private practice, and the last four Toon children - Michael, Kathy, Karen, and Kevin - were born. Joan and Bob were strong in their Catholic faith, and their kids attended church and elementary school in the Madeline Parish. In raising their children, Joan and Bob emphasized the importance of family, hard work, and education. With her amazing, tireless work ethic and unique determination, Joan was the "Ultimate Super-Mom" for her kids, artfully and skillfully managing the daily operations of a bustling household. No matter what circumstances or challenges she faced, Joan would always find the time and energy to do what was needed for her kids. In her spare time, Joan loved gardening, exercise, baking, traveling and crafts, including photography, sewing, knitting, quilting and crochet. She took up jogging in her early 50's and was still logging five-mile runs three times a week in her 70's – when she also decided to add strength training to her regimen! Joan will forever be remembered as an amazing woman who loved her children unconditionally and lived her life with fierce determination and strength. She had an infectious laugh, a constant, can-do spirit, was always up for a new adventure, and offered kindness toward everyone she knew. Joan Toon is survived by her children, Brian, Mary, Michael, Kathy, Karen, and Kevin; son-in-law, Patrick; daughters-in-law, Kathleen, Christy, and Heather; grandchildren, Jasmine, Bobby, Brandon, Laura, Nate, Anna, Emily, Nathan, Samantha, William, Marina, John, Samuel, Lewis, Sophia, Joey, Dylan, Hayden, Brianna and Alex; great-grandsons, Wyatt, Reed, Oliver, and Noah; and great-granddaughter, Harper. Joan was preceded in death by her husband Robert, daughter Bonnie Jean, and siblings Tim, Elly, and Jim. A celebration of life is scheduled for 10 a.m., Nov. 15, 2023, at the chapel at Mary's Woods, 17400 Holy Names Drive, Lake Oswego. She will be laid to rest in Belle Passi Memorial Mausoleum in Woodburn, alongside her husband and daughter. In lieu of flowers, remembrances in Joan's name may be made to the Bonnie Toon-Sweeney Memorial Scholarship at the University of Portland.

Joan Marie Toon

June 9, 1926 - November 1, 2023