July 2, 1936 – Sept. 9, 2011
JoAnne Feckner, 75, died Sept. 9, 2011.
She was born July 2, 1936 in Shawnee, Okla., to Ernest “Jack” and Claricy (Brinley) McCormack. When she was six months old, her family moved to Lancaster, Calif. Her brothers, Odis and Clifford were born there.
She attended Antelope Valley High School where she met Victor Santino, Jr. They were married in May of 1952 and later divorced, but remained good friends. They had five children: twins Gary and Mary, Karen Marie, and twins Dennis and David. The family moved to Napa, Calif. in 1964 and then to Yreka, Calif., in 1965 – the place she would always call home.
In 1983 she moved back to Napa, where she met George Feckner and they married on Jan. 11, 1985. They traveled often to visit family and friends in Idaho and Oregon, with plenty of stops along the way for fishing and crabbing on the Oregon coast. Mr. Feckner died in 1988. He was the love of her life.
In 1990 Mrs. Feckner moved to Red Bluff, Calif. to be near her sons, Dennis and David, and their families. Her mother, Claricy, joined her there, and many years of family gatherings were enjoyed by all. The grandchildren were particularly fond of Grandma’s Nintendo, swimming pool and hot tub.
Mrs. Feckner’s final move was to Oregon in 2000 to be near Karen and her family in Crawfordsville. She also cared for her mother until Claricy passed away on March 9, 2009. As Mrs. Feckner’s health declined, the need for assisted living presented itself and in March, 2011, she moved to Wiley Creek in Sweet Home. In the short time she lived there, she made many friends and enjoyed every minute of her time with them. She looked forward to playing Bingo and going on the occasional country drive and then to lunch.
Many friends and family members have been the recipients of her beautiful handiwork. She loved to knit, crochet, cross stitch, embroider and sew. Nothing brought her more joy than to be able to pick up a needle of any sort and put it to work on her next creation. Every family member has been blessed with one of her crocheted afghans and every grandchild has received a treasure box with a stand-up, cross-stitched nativity set.
The most significant public event of her life took place on May 22, 2011. It was her desire to be baptized as a testimony of her faith and belief in Jesus Christ. It was a glorious day for her to be surrounded by her closest family and friends.
Mrs. Feckner is survived by her children, daughter Karen and son-in-law John Joiner of Crawfordsville, son David Santino of Gerber, Calif., and son Dennis and daughter-in-law Karen Santino of Ethel, Wash.; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews Deanna and Danny McClure, David and Sheri McCormack, Darryl McCormack and Doug McCormack, all of Oklahoma.
And many aunts, uncles and cousins held a special place in her heart.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George; parents Jack and Claricy McCormack; brother and sister-in-law Odis and Carolyn McCormack; brother Clifford McCormack; and children Gary and Mary Santino.
A memorial service to celebrate Mrs. Feckner’s life is planned at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, at the First Baptist Church of Brownsville. Final burial will be at Baptist Cemetery in Brownsville.
Memorial contributions in her memory may be sent to Teen Challenge Pacific NW, PO Box 609, Lebanon, OR 97355.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.