Joan Dunlevy Southcotte

In Loving Memory of Joan Dunlevy Southcotte

Joan was born to David and Adele Dunlevy on the Jersey Shore. She loved the beach, roller skating and playing the clarinet in the Pleasantville High School Marching Band. She was also an accomplished pianist. Her life took an adventurous turn when she met and married Chuck Southcotte, a Colorado cowboy and Navy air traffic controller. The next 12 years were marked by military life and global travel, taking them to Subic Bay in the Philippines, Coronado Island, San Diego, Kodiak, Alaska, and Virginia Beach, VA. During these years, they welcomed three children—Patti, David, and Chuck Jr. After retiring from the Navy, the family returned to New Jersey to run a Christmas tree farm and then moved to Vermont to manage a family camp on Lake Champlain.

In 1975, Chuck was ready to return to the Southwest. They moved to Jackson Lake in Mancos, Colorado where Joan worked as a librarian. Here she enjoyed 14 years in one place, where Chuck was supervisor of the Mancos Water Valley District. A strong Christian faith had always been central in their marriage and in 1989, Chuck became an Interim Pastor. This found them on the move again serving communities in Walden, Colorado, St. George, Utah and Avondale, Colorado.

After Chuck’s passing in 2000, Joan moved to Durango to be close to her children and grandchildren. Though she deeply missed her beloved husband, Joan continued to build a rich life filled with purpose, friendship, and service. She volunteered with Hospice and Friends of the Library and found a loving community in the First Presbyterian Church of Durango, she especially enjoyed singing in the choir.

As a military wife and mother, Joan handled many challenges. A creative homemaker, she hardly skipped a beat with each move. She also enjoyed working outside the home; lunch lady, bookkeeper, teacher’s assistant and librarian.

Joan was predeceased by her sister Julia in 1965, her parents, her husband Chuck and granddaughter Caralina Borland. Joan is survived by her three children, Patti Dedrick (Steve), David Southcotte (Joanne) and Chuck Southcotte (Kristal), and her six grandchildren - Kelsie, Jake, David Jr., Danielle, Carter and Adelaide - whom she was always there for. She also leaves her much loved, ever supportive Jersey family; brother David Dunlevy (Barbara), nephew Sean, niece Erin (Joe) and their children Payton, Abegayle, and Kierstyn.

We adored our Jersey Girl and will miss her cards full of encouragement and faith, her humor, (that laugh!), her crochet dishcloths and afghans and her easy company. Joan had a rare gift: she always saw the best in those around her and loved without condition.

She leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and strength.