Joan Mahaffey-Poulos, daughter of William and Johnnie Mae Mahaffey, was born on May 29, 1933, and died on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. She had 3 siblings; James (Jim) Mahaffey, William (Bill) Mahaffey, and Sirritha Franklin-Mahaffey, all of which are deceased. She is survived by her children Michael Poulos (Shelton, Washington/Phoenix, Arizona), Michele Holland (Kirkland, Washington), and Tomas Poulos (Aberdeen, Washington).
Joan was born in LaBarge, Wyoming, and when she was four years old her family re-located to the Portland, Oregon area and ultimately Grays Harbor where she attended primary and middle schools. After attending Hoquiam High School for a brief period, she married her fiancé (Nonda Poulos) in 1949.
The couple lived with their family in both Hoquiam and Aberdeen with brief portions of her life spent living outside the Harbor in Kirkland and Vancouver, Washington during the 1980s.
Joan spent her time as a homemaker and assisting in managing several family businesses centered around the auto and construction industries. She was very proud of what the family had accomplished in business and the services they provided to those who lived in the Harbor.
Joan enjoyed visiting with her family, especially her grandchildren (Nick, Marcee, and Callie) and great-grandchildren (Oliver, Eilis, Annika, and Leir) and was a constant fixture and influence in all the children’s lives. She also enjoyed cooking and baking, playing card games, playing the piano, and was an active participant in several types of dancing for many years.
Joan is perhaps most remembered for her passion and dedication to religion and involvement in her church, Immanuel Baptist in Hoquiam. Through that platform, she touched many lives and worked to enrich her spirit and assist the community whenever it was needed. She rarely missed a service unless her grandchildren were visiting that weekend. Joan served as the link to her family, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
A burial and graveside service took place Monday, February 26, at Forest Hill Cemetery in Cosmopolis.
