JoAnn Kay Gagnon, longtime Dayton and Waitsburg area resident, passed away Monday, January 19, 2026 of congestive heart failure at the Dayton General Hospital. She was 73. A graveside service will be held Monday, January 26th at 11:00 am at the Waitsburg Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 1:00 pm at the Community Bible Church in Dayton. Pastor Dewayne Ramsey will officiate.

JoAnn was the second of four children born to Donald and Barbara James Lenhard. She was born August 15, 1952 in Spokane, Washington and grew up in the Deer Park area. She graduated from Deer Park High School in 1970 and attended Washington State University in Pullman. JoAnn received her degree in Home Economics Education from WSU in 1975. During her college years she held leadership positions at local, state and national levels in the Home Economics Association.

JoAnn was a home economics teacher for the Harrington School District from 1974-1975. She met Joseph Gagnon of Waitsburg through mutual friends and the couple were married June 12, 1976. They made their home on the Lower Hogeye and she kept busy as a homemaker, wife and mother. She worked as a teacher for some years and then began to home school their two children. She was an extremely talented seamstress and ran her own home-based business – JoAnn's Sewing & Drapery from 1977 – 1996. She also was a Shaklee Distributor.

JoAnn was very active in her church and served in many capacities over the years. For a number of those years, she served as the church secretary. She designed and made large church banners for Community Bible Church, also windowsill dressings and table runners. She was a group leader and administrator for the Awana Program and she led the young women's married groups at the church. She taught bible study and life skills classes – cooking, canning, gardening, menu planning and she initiated couples' activities and dinner and movie nights.

In a project known as Hope 4 Women; JoAnn personally sewed over 80 dresses for "Dress A Girl Around the World". She wrote and published numerous sewing books. She sewed bright and fun pillowcases for children; which were given through the Shriners Children's Hospital in Spokane for their patients.

JoAnn is survived by her husband, Joe, at their home; her two children, Justin (Julleen) Gagnon of Waitsburg and Corrie (Daniel) Berneking of Sequim, WA.; 11 grandchildren, Riley, Jacob, Alaina, Luke, Ruth, Hannah, Peter, Caleb, Zaedock, Lydia and Adam; and by her siblings; Scott Lenhard, Gordon Lenhard, and Karen Tripp. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family suggests memorial gifts in her memory be made to the Community Bible Church in Dayton. On-line guest book is at www.corbeillfuneralhomes.com Corbeill Funeral Home in Dayton is caring for the family.