March 3, 1932 – November 9, 2024

Joanne Ferguson Clements was born Francis Joanne Ferguson in Chicago, IL in 1932. Like her mother before her, she blazed an unusual trail as a fiercely independent woman in restrictive times. She will be remembered most for her adventurous and joyful spirit.
After graduating from the College of Wooster in 1954 with a history degree and a teaching certificate, Joanne taught seventh grade geography and English, then worked for the Girl Scouts before meeting and marrying Robert Claire Clements. They settled in Rochester MN, where her husband had accepted an orchestra teaching position in the local schools.
While raising her three girls and shuttling them to daily ballet and sports practices, Joanne became an enthusiastic instructor for the Rochester Reading Center, a position she held for 30 years. She earned an SLBP certificate (Special Learning and Behavioral Problems) at Mankato University and became a supervising teacher in the Reading Center’s Orton-Gillingham workshops for more than 20 years. In addition, she diagnosed and taught students with learning disabilities in her home, at local schools and at a federal prison.
Joanne moved to New Castle, CO in 1997. With long-time friend Carolyn Spencer, she purchased a home and enjoyed fresh powder on the ski slopes, supporting foster kids, and feeding and housing the homeless. Joanne continued teaching and became a long-standing member of the 100 Club and the Three Rivers Unitarian Universalist Congregation. As an instructor for young people at several local ski areas, Joanne was famous for providing spelling lessons on chair lift rides with her students.
Joanne’s adventurous spirit, love of history and appreciation of nature may have been sparked by her parents, Dwight and Irene Ferguson. When Joanne was 9, her family moved to Hawaii just 11 months before the attack on Pearl Harbor and remained for another year following the attack. As a result, Joanne became an avid reader of Pearl Harbor history and frequently shared her stories with friends and families.
When facing a challenge, her father would say, “Isn’t this an interesting experience! I wonder what is going to happen next?” Joanne was shocked to learn that others did not approach flat tires with the same curiosity and excitement, but hers was contagious and her joyful presence was a breath of fresh air to many.
Like her parents, Joanne traveled widely, including trips to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, South Africa, Russia, Italy, Alaska, and Hawaii. Geology field trips and adventures with friends were frequent. She did solo trips with her truck and camping trailer well into her 80’s and loved exploring the back roads of the Western US.
Following a severe injury in a 2019 auto accident, which left her with 20 fractured and broken bones, 88-year-old Joanne wanted to ski again. Thanks to excellent care from St Mary’s Hospital and The Center at Foresight rehabilitation facility in Grand Junction, and with extra support from her daughters Bonnie (a physical therapist), Tina (who wrestled with insurance and bills) and Keely (who moved in to help care for her mother), Joanne was up and walking shakily after 100 days of rehab. Much to the astonishment of all, she sailed down the bunny slope at Snowmass, terrified and exhilarated, just 3 months later!

For the last four years of her life, Joanne struggled with memory loss triggered by the accident. During those years she received loving care from her daughter Tina, and Tina’s husband Dan, whom she lived with in Southern California as well as Keely and Bonnie, whom she visited monthly in Phoenix. Joanne passed away several days after a fall, with family members by her side.
Joanne is survived by her daughters Tina Higuera (Mission Viejo, CA), Keely Meagan and Bonnie Kurth (Phoenix AZ), sisters Carol Turner and Audrey Doehne (Portland OR), son-in-law Dan Higuera, as well as grandchildren Jenny, Angela, Michael and Austin, great grandchildren Reagan, Jack, Matthew, Emma, and Kennedy. She is also deeply missed by her book group and best friend Mary Huffine.
Memorials will be held in Portland Oregon on January 31 and in the Glenwood Springs/Carbondale area of Colorado in March.