It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Joy Namhie on April 4th of this year. Born December 28th, 1929, in a small house in the tiny town of Eureka, Montana, Myrna Joy was born to Howard and Mabel Ramlow. While living in Eureka, Joy helped out at the family's logging camp, which produced hand hewn railroad ties. Joy's mother and grandmother cooked for the loggers, and Joy helped with the chores.
In the 1940s, the Ramlows moved to Oregon, and lived in several different places, including a stay in the Gresham area, where Joy finished high school. It was at the roller-skating rink in Gresham where she first met her future husband, Paul Namhie. Both were very good roller skaters and skated together competitively for several years.
On September 1, 1950, Joy married the true love of her life, and ten months later, their first son, Kim, was born. Three years later came daughter Dianne, and five years later, their second son Jeff was born.
During Joy's working years, she worked for some very different businesses. She worked in downtown Portland for a lawyer, took a job at a casket company, and then went to work in a credit union. She also worked in Gresham for a church and eventually wound up in Sandy working at the high school. She started her tenure in the high school’s production office, then moved into being the principal's secretary, and retired from the athletics department. Her years in the halls of Sandy Union High School made her an icon amongst most students, as many thought of her as a second mom.
Away from work, Joy enjoyed camping, fishing, knitting, crocheting, cake decorating, puzzling, and spending time with her family. Joy was also an avid bowler and was the anchor on many league teams over the years and also shared her love of bowling with the entire family. And lastly, Joy's favorite pastime of all was being around her six grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.
Joy passed away peacefully while at Adventist Medical Center at the age of 95, surrounded by friends, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, aged 72 to 4 years old.
What a grand life you had Mom, we love you, and we will miss you dearly!
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation in honor of Joy to her favorite charity, St. Jude, be made. Thank you!