With great sadness, her family would like to announce that Joan Lee Lemmon, 88, of The Villages, passed away on July 22, 2025. Joan was born October 7, 1936, and was originally from Belington, West Virginia. It was there she grew up on a farm, cheerfully milking cows on cold mornings at 5 a.m., and attending the local 4-H club summer camp, which was always the highlight of her year. During her high school years, she made time for extracurriculars, serving on the student council and being voted Homecoming Princess.
She met her husband, Harry Lemmon, at a local church youth group, and they married on February 13, 1954. They spent sixty beautiful years together and raised four children: Jaye, Kevin, Joe, and Mark. The family later relocated to Fairfax, Virginia, where Joan built a successful career as a Contract Manager at Northrop Grumman. She proudly earned a degree in business from National Louis University after keeping a promise to her adopted father, Grover, by returning to school once her children were grown.
Joan and Harry retired to The Villages, Florida, in 2004, where they enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and spent time with treasured friends. Joan was known to answer the phone with “It’s always a beautiful day in The Villages!” She was an active member of the West Virginia Club and the Laureate Zeta Omicron Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, where she made lifelong friends.
Joan is survived by her children, Jaye McCarthy, Kevin (Claire) Lemmon, Joe (Linda) Lemmon, and Mark Lemmon. She was a devoted grandmother, or “Mema,” to Ryan (Kerri), Rachel (Brian), Taylor (Paul), Victoria (BJ), Shelby, Nathan, Grace, William, Allen, Carl, Patricia, and a great-grandmother to Cameron, Caroline, Theo, Ella, and Braxton. She is also survived by the many friends she made throughout her life who were drawn to her quick wit and joyful heart.
She is preceded in death by her adopted parents, Grover and Bertha, grandson Stephen, and her beloved husband of sixty years, Harry. Her family is deeply saddened by the loss of their matriarch, but feels incredibly blessed to have been guided by such a wonderful woman as Joan.