JoAn Edwards Daniels-Brown Forsyth

November 6, 1939 – October 4, 2022

JoAn Edwards Daniels-Brown Forsyth, 82, passed away from the effects of cancer at her home in Magnolia, Washington on Oct. 4, 2022. She was born on November 6, 1939, to Charlie J. Edwards and Ada Winn Edwards in Havre, Montana.

JoAn spent her high school years in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, and developed many cherished and lifetime friendships with people she kept in contact with her entire life. She returned there often throughout the years to attend class reunions and show her children the beauties of the Black Hills.

JoAn attended Brigham Young University, studying nursing. It was at BYU that she met and fell in love with Arnie Richard Daniels-Brown and the two of them were married in Idaho Falls, Idaho on June 3, 1960. Soon after being married, they traveled to Mexico City, Mexico where Arnie studied Spanish for six months. On June 2, 1961, they were sealed together for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After Arnie completed his teaching degree at BYU, he took a teaching job in Las Vegas, Nevada. Desiring to be nearer to family, they moved to Moses Lake, Washington in 1964 where they raised their five children. JoAn was always active in improving the community. She created a baton twirling team, the Moses Lake Mini Chiefs, that performed in parades and competed in twirling competitions around the region. She taught swim lessons at Swedberg Pool and, later, at their pool at their home near Moses Lake High School. JoAn ran for and won a seat on the Moses Lake City Council – the first woman elected to the council. As a council member, she proposed and supported expanded baseball fields and the creation of the Moses Lake Aquatic Center. Along the way, she and Arnie actively supported each of their five children Stephen, Glade, Talana, Dallerie and Roman in their various interests. She taught her children concern for the poor and needy by organizing yearly “Secret Santa” packages that would be left anonymously at the doors of elated children.

JoAn was not afraid of a challenge. Likely inspired by her father’s involvement with the sugar industry, she drove sugar beet trucks during the harvest season, including fearlessly driving the trucks onto the loud, scary hopper where the beets were dumped at the U&I Sugar plant.

In 1994, JoAn ran for the Washington State Senate, doorbelling large swaths of the 13th Legislative District. While she was not the victor, she greatly enjoyed her time listening to voters from all climbs of life.

In 1996, her beloved husband Arnie was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and passed away on Oct. 24 of that year. In her loneliness, and with the help of generous friends in the community, JoAn took flying lessons at the Grant County Airport, nearly completing all the requirements for her pilot’s license. During that time, JoAn became reacquainted with a high school friend, Dave Forsyth, while visiting his mother at Samaritan Hospital. Building on their friendship developed during their high school years in Belle Fourche, JoAn and Dave fell in love and were married on Nov. 14, 1998.

JoAn and Dave enjoyed 24 years of marriage together, traveling to see children and grandchildren around the U.S. They also visited Alaska, China, the British Isles, Normandy, France, Italy and the east coast of Canada. They especially loved their time visiting the warmth of the Hawaiian Islands and the majesty of Yellowstone National Park.

JoAn was a fearless roller coaster rider, joining her grandkids on rides that even their parents wouldn’t abide. She was always good for the next great adventure. For her 75th birthday, her kids bought her a copilot seat on a flight in a Sky Combat Ace Red Rocker stunt plane in San Diego. While the much younger guest copilot in the other plane had his head buried in an air sickness bag, JoAn was taking the controls for a barrel roll like a Top Gun pilot.

She remained an active swimmer up until the last six months of her life. She trained and periodically competed in the Huntsman International Senior Games winning more than 25 medals while family and friends, cheered her on. In 2015, she qualified for and competed in the National Senior Games held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Always aware of the needs of others, JoAn and Dave served together in a variety of volunteer assignments in their community. JoAn was a docent at Woodland Park Zoo and was often seen near Melati, a beloved orangutan at the zoo, who was captivated by JoAn and her boxes of surprise trinkets shown to her through the observation window. JoAn also volunteered as a tour guide when the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit visited Seattle in 2006. JoAn and Dave were internship advisors for BYU-Idaho, helping connect dozens of students with internship opportunities in the Seattle area. They served for many years as volunteers in the Bellevue Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As church welfare specialists, they were often found helping and mentoring homeless individuals and others seeking assistance.

JoAn is survived by her loving husband, Dave Forsyth of Magnolia, and children Stephen Daniels-Brown (spouse Celeste), Glade Daniels-Brown, Talana Mielke (spouse Terry), Dallerie Daniels-Brown, and Roman Daniels-Brown (spouse Patrice). JoAn is a grandmother to 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren who adore her and loved clowning around with her. She is also survived by her three fun-loving sisters Louise Ellis, Elaine Woodward and Sharlene Nebeker.

A private family open house will be held at Dave and JoAn’s home in Seattle, Washington. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in JoAn Forsyth’s name to the Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, www.zoo.org/donate. The family expresses their gratitude to the many compassionate doctors, nurses, and caregivers who assisted JoAn and the family through this difficult journey.