Joy A Stohr's Obituary
Joy A. Stohr, 83, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend and generous community leader, died Jan. 27, 2021 following a brave 20-year battle with cancer and related illnesses.
During her lifetime, Joy was guided by her strong Christian faith which gave her the courage to “keep on keeping on…” during the most difficult of times.
A highly successful businesswoman, Joy was majority partner in Noble Mountain Tree Farm in Salem, Ore. She and her late husband, Robert Stohr, founded the company in 1976. Prior to establishing Noble Mountain, the Stohrs owned and operated the Douglas Fir Christmas Tree Company in Shelton. Both companies have since been sold.
Joy will be remembered for her resilience in times of personal challenges, thoughtfulness, concern for others’ welfare, love of her pet miniature Schnauzers and beaming smile which lit up a room.
Born in Tacoma May 27, 1937, Joy was a daughter of the late Gerald and Anna Baker who operated a grocery store in Tacoma. Her sister, Pat, preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter, Stephanie D’Ambrosia (Robert) of Princeton, N.J.; son, Brandt, of Bonney Lake; and grandchildren Brie and Matthew D’Ambrosia and Blake and Wyatt Stohr.
After graduating from the University of Puget Sound School of Education, Joy taught in the Tacoma School District. In 1962, she married Robert Stohr, a graduate of the University of Washington Law School.
Always putting a priority on education, Joy took continuing education classes in human resources at Pacific Lutheran University after she and her husband became business owners. When her children were grown, she obtained a master’s degree in psychology from Antioch University and fulfilled a lifelong dream of establishing a counseling practice in Tacoma. When fate intervened and her husband was killed in a tragic automobile accident in 1996, she resumed her leadership role at Noble Mountain, helping the company gain added success in the development of new products and customers around the country.
Joy’s volunteerism and generosity have benefitted numerous organizations including the ARK Learning Institute, Tacoma Art Museum, Christ Lutheran Church and Pacific Lutheran University. For 10 years, she served on the board of directors of Greater Lakes Mental Health. She also was an ARK board member. Joy was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, the Lakewood Racquet Club, the Tacoma Country and Golf Club and the Lillian Shotwell Orthopedic Guild.
Deeply patriotic, Joy was active in Lakewood Republican Women and was a district director of the state’s Republican Women’s organization.
While there was always a focus on the family business, the Stohr’s also put much time and energy into refurbishing a home they purchased in 1975 on American Lake next to Thornewood Castle. Designed and decorated by Joy, the home in its beautiful setting has been a favorite gathering place for her friends, family and neighbors. A special time for the neighborhood was on July 4 holidays when the Stohr, L.T, Murray, Weyerhaeuser and Wagner families and friends enjoyed fireworks on American Lake. Joy also enjoyed traveling abroad and spending time at the family home in La Quinta, Calif.
Memorial services for Joy will be announced once Covi-19 restrictions have been lifted.
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