Joanne Christine Watson Harris

Joanne Christine Watson Harris, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the incredible age of 91. She now joins a multitude of loved ones who have preceded her to the heavens above, including her first husband, John Watson, her son James (Jim), and stepson Alan. She leaves behind her husband, Darrell; brother, Tom and his wife Dianne (her “sister”); her children: Julie and Denise, Joe and Natasha, and Janet and Gregg, and Jim's partner, Froy. She also leaves her stepchildren: Mary Carol and Jim, Tim and Val, Darrelyn, Mike, and their families. In addition, she leaves behind many grandchildren: Nichole and Steve, Tiffany and Michael, Joey and Cassie, John Michael, John, and Ilusha; and great-grandchildren: Bella, Jordan, Jensen, and soon-to-be-born Josie. Beyond family, Joanne leaves behind a long list of people whose lives she touched deeply. She will be greatly missed by so many.

Joanne was born in Racine, WI, and moved to California with her parents as a young girl. She graduated from USC with a teaching degree and enjoyed several years as a Grade School Teacher before marrying her first husband John. The two of them moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, shortly after the wedding and lived in a small home right on the beach. After a year, they moved back to CA, where she gave birth to their first child. They then decided AZ would be their final home, so they moved to Phoenix and had 3 more children, whom she spent a lifetime guiding and caring for, till her final day.

Joanne was a wonderful example of living a life in service of others; her children, her family, friends, and even strangers. She volunteered at every opportunity. She took people into her home when needed. She served at the church, schools, and even, with our father, took part in helping to start up “Weldon House”, a wonderful organization that helps mothers to live with their children while recovering from addiction. Her love and compassion for others was the center of her life, along with a strong faith in God. She also spent several years volunteering at Los Olivos senior center as a writer and director of plays that the center would put on, only charging canned goods, which they would donate. Her plays usually involved silly musicals and lots of fun costumes, a testament to her silly and fun nature.

Early in their marriage, one of John's closest friends at Luke Air Force base, Jack Martin, was killed in a plane accident. Jack left behind his wife, Teddy, and their 4 children, Peggy, Bonnie, Cathy and Jack. They called John "Big John" because he was so tall, but when he married Joanne, she told them "You're not calling me 'Big Joanne'", so they became Uncle John and Aunt Joanne, and all their kids became "cousins". Another testament to their big hearts and wide-open arms to expanding their family.

John Watson passed away in 1994, after 35 loving years together. Years later, Joanne met Darrell at St. Thomas the Apostle Church where they were both Eucharistic Ministers. Not long after they met, Darrell ran into her at the airport and they had such a nice visit that they decided to continue seeing each other and were eventually married in 2001. They enjoyed over 23 years of adventure and travel (and Casinos). Cruises were their favorite way to see the world (don’t ask about the Newlywed Game). Darrell flew them all around the country in their Tripacer and Cessna, and they enjoyed living in 3 places every year, split between Pinetop, Phoenix, and Stockton Lake, Missouri. They even opened "Joanne 'n Darrell's Better 'n Nothin' RV park" together. Through Darrell, Joanne “adopted” 5 new adult children and their families, who all took to her from the get-go. Family was always very important to her, and she was always willing to take new “children” under her wing, as so many can attest to.

Joanne loved camping as a young mother, spending entire summers in a trailer next to Shush be Tu lake, or driving across the country. As her children grew up, she began exploring the world. She’d been to England, Russia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Costa Rica, and a multitude of islands in the Caribbean. She has parasailed, zip-lined, sea-doo’ed, and even tried to water ski in her 80s. She even mastered her new power wheelchair she got this year! She would never shy away from a new challenge or learning opportunity, no matter her age. She especially loved traveling surrounded by family. Catalina Island with all of our relatives, and houseboating on Lake Powell were almost annual events. She was even scheduled to cruise to her ancestral lands, Norway, shortly before she left us. She never lost her travel itch. We figure, now she gets to see it all.

Memorial Services to celebrate her life will begin with a Visitation at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ, on Tuesday August 5, 2025. A Rosary will begin at 6:00 pm, and viewing will be from 5:00 – 8:00pm. There will be an opportunity to share how Joanne has touched your life from 6:30 – 8:00pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Maria Goretti Roman Catholic Church, 6261 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale, AZ, on Wednesday, August 6, at 9:30am, followed by the Interment at Green Acres Cemetery, 401 Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ at approximately 11:00. It’ll be hot but there will be canopies and water available. Afterward, there will be an informal gathering and lunch at Janet’s home.

In lieu of flowers, we would love it if you could instead send a donation to the Weldon House (aka Arizona Women’s Recovery Center) at www.AZwomensrecoverycenter.org. We look forward to seeing all the faces of those who loved her.