Joan Carlson died peacefully on June 7th in the loving care of the nurses and staff at Tri-Cities Retirement Inn in Pasco, WA.

Joan was born on March 21st, 1930, to Michael McNally and Mary Durkin in Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland. One of five children, Joan had many happy memories of growing up in Westport and nearby Carraholly overlooking Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick. As her birthday fell on the first full day of spring, it was also always marked by the first day of the local County Fair, and Joan fondly remembered and frequently recounted the memory of waking up on her birthdays to the sounds and smells of the farm animals being brought in to the village green for the Fair auctions. While Joan traveled to and lived in a number of countries during her 83 years, including the last 14 in the Tri-Cities, the west of Ireland always remained dear to her heart.

Family was the focus and foundation of Joan's life. She had three sons with her first husband, James J. McAuley of Dublin, Ireland. Later divorced, she was remarried to and is predeceased by Michael Duffy Carlson of St. Louis, MO. For Joan, or Beani as she was affectionately known, a great day would have been sharing a meal, preferably prepared by her loving and talented hands, in the company of her family followed by a slow walk, a brisk chat, and a good few belly laughs.

Joan loved learning, a trait she revealed with much tenacity throughout her life and which she tried to impart to her sons and grandchildren. With her own formal studies cut short early in secondary school, it was with much pride that Joan returned later in life to attend classes at Trinity College Dublin and to receive her undergraduate degree from Meramec College in St. Louis, MO.

Joan is mourned by her sons Jim McAuley W. Richland, Tony McAuley London, and Kevin McAuley New York; her grandchildren Jade, Olivia, Shea, Mallory, Xabier, and Beatrice; her daughters-in-law Judy McAuley, Tracy Corrigan, and Conchi Valduvieco; her brother Joe McNally; and her extended family and friends.

A funeral mass will be held on June 21st at Christ the King Catholic Church at 3:00pm in Richland and in December at St. Mary's Church in Westport, Ireland, where her remains will be interred.

May her loving soul rest in peace.