A loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother left her earthly home for her heavenly one. Joan Eloise (Lee) Gochenour died peacefully on October 13, 2014 surrounded by loved ones. She was born at home to Roy D. Lee, Sr. and Josephine (Powers) Lee on August 22, 1929 in Putnam County. On February 11, 1951, Joan married James E. Gochenour of Lebanon at the North Salem Christian Church. He survives. Together, they welcomed three children into their lives. They are Sheila (Jeff) Scott of Pittsboro, Charles (Karen) Gochenour of Lebanon and Sue (Paul) Noland of North Salem. Their three grandchildren are Greg Gochenour and Laura Gochenour, both of Lebanon, and Matt (Carly) Scott of Lizton. They also have two step-grandchildren and four step-great grandchildren. Joan was the eighth child of twelve children. Surviving siblings are Roy D. Lee, Jr., of Sheridan, Ralph Lee of Jamestown, Wanda Zavada, Maxine Freeland and Marjorie Miller, all of Lebanon. Max Lee, Robert Lee, Jack Lee, Rex Lee, Maurice Lee and Juanita Hale preceded her in death. She graduated from North Salem High School. Joan was a member of Old Union Church and the Order of the Eastern Star, Pittsboro chapter. Her favorite occupation was housewife and mother, but she also enjoyed working as a cook at Granville Wells School and also as a cook at the Boone County Jail. Other occupations she enjoyed were working at the Danville Basket Shop and Wm. H. Block Warehouse. Joan had many special gifts. She could make a rainy day sunny by singing – usually church hymns. She made the best oatmeal and sugar cookies, and her apple pie was deemed ‘famous’ by everyone who ate some. She didn’t tell kids to go play; she’d say, “Let’s play a game!” She loved gardening or any outside activity. Her appliqued quilts and embroidered pillowcases won awards at the county and state fairs. The judges couldn’t distinguish the stitches on top from the underneath stitches. Joan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease over 20 years ago, but no one could tell it by the active life she continued to lead. Her quality of life was abruptly changed on August 2, 2011 when she was the sole survivor of a car/train accident in Jamestown. Visitation is Friday, October 17, 2014 from 2 – 8 pm and the funeral service is Saturday, October 18 at 11 am. Both will be at the Old Union Church with burial following the service on Saturday morning. The church is located at 5681 South 500 West, Jamestown, Indiana. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018 or the Brain Injury Association of Indiana, 9020 Crawfordsville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46234 You may visit our website, www.porterfuneralhome.us, to sign her online register and leave a personal message.
