Joy Harrington
October 7, 1931 – February 14, 2023
Joy Harrington was reunited with her one true love on Valentine’s Day, passing peacefully with her
children by her side. Born in Ola, Idaho, to Elmer and Lenora Linn, Joy grew up in the Northwest and had
a love for horses and animals. She often stayed her grandmother while her parents worked as cooks for
the CCC and in lookout towers in the Cascades during WWII.
Joy graduated high school in Estacada, Oregon, and attended Oregon State University. At OSU, she
earned a degree in Business Administration and was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. OSU is also
where she met Ed Harrington, the man who was to become her husband of 63 years. After graduation,
they began their life together in West Virginia, where Ed was an engineer. Thereafter, they lived in
Montreal, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Alamos, Los Angeles, Idaho Falls and Beaverton before settling
in Richland in 1978. With each move came new challenges and adventures, from navigating French-
speaking Montreal to starting Shamrock Constructors in 1984 and working alongside her husband for
more than 20 years.
Throughout these moves, Joy provided a strong foundation for the family, managing a household of five
children, packing and unpacking houses, and helping everyone get settled in new schools and
neighborhoods. Joy was a devoted wife and mother. She was a Cub Scout den mom, Girl Scout leader
and classroom volunteer. She even found time to make matching Easter dresses for the girls, and
Frostline vests, tents and backpacks for everyone.
Ed and Joy loved to travel, making memories in Africa, Ireland, Australia, Mexico and all over the United
States. Joy embraced outdoor adventures, including moose hunting by horseback, skiing, sailing in the
San Juans and the inland passage, camping, fishing—even riding ATVs into her 80s.
Ed and Joy established “the ranch” in Enterprise, Oregon in 1999, where they spent much of their
retirement enjoying the changing seasons, visiting with neighbors, watching deer and pheasant in the
yard, admiring sunsets and listening to the cattle in their pastures. They attended St. Katherine’s
Catholic church during their time in Enterprise.
At the time of her passing, Joy lived at Bonaventure Retirement Community in Richland, where she
continued to see friends from the Meadow Springs neighborhood and attend mass at Parish of the Holy
Spirit. She also made special new friends at Bonaventure.
Joy was a beloved mother to five children: Daniel, Michael, Erin, Shannon and Kevin. She had twelve
grandchildren and five great grandchildren Joy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and
her daughter, Shannon. She will be remembered for her ready hugs, deep Catholic faith and fine sense
of humor.  A funeral mass is planned for 11 a.m., Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Parish of the Holy Spirit,                                                                                                                                                                      7409 W. Clearwater, Kennewick, with a rosary at 10:30 a.m. A graveside service will be held at 12:30 p.m.,                                                                                                                                                                   at Sunset Gardens, in Richland, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joy’s memory can be made to Catholic Family Charities or the Tri-Cities
Cancer Center.