Joan Rita Mcclelland

Joan McClelland, a resident of Sedona since 1979, passed away after a short illness on April 27, 2014. Joan was born in upstate New York on May 24, 1928 to Francis and Lillian Rourke. After graduating from New York State Teachers College in Albany, NY she married Clyde McClelland in 1951. They lived in Boston, Washington DC, Austria, Sweden, Germany and Canada as Clyde pursued a career as a scientist with the Foreign Service. When Clyde retired in 1979 they travelled the country looking for a new home before finding it in Sedona. After settling in Sedona, Joan became one of the wonderful full time volunteers that make the Sedona area such a vibrant place.
Joan was a volunteer at the Sedona Public Library for thirty years. She was also deeply invested in preserving the beauty of Sedona and its public lands. With Keep Sedona Beautiful she served as a longtime board member, president and received their Norman Magee award in 1997. As a founding member of the Friends of the Forest, she and Clyde acted as docents at Palatki and the V bar V. Most recently, Joan volunteered her time weekly at the Red Rock Ranger District Visitor Center and Sedona Humane Societys Paw Prints thrift shop.
Joans passion for our area also extended to local government. She served as a board member and president of the Village of Oak Creek Association. She was a founding member of the Big Park Regional Council and as a delegate of VOCA served as secretary and president. Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis appointed her to the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning commission where she served for three terms before retiring at the end of 2013. Supervisor Davis presented her with an award of appreciation for her many years of volunteer service to the county and Big Park Council just two weeks ago.
Joan and Clyde enjoyed tennis and played for many years with groups from Poco Diablo Resort and the Village of Oak Creek. She was a weaver, beader and longtime member of the Verde Spinners and Weavers. She was also a fierce competitor in the weekly Bridge games at the Village of Oak Creek Association clubhouse.
She will be greatly missed by many in Sedona as a friend and tireless volunteer to preserve the quality of life for all of us in the area.
Joan is survived by her husband Clyde McClelland, daughter Karen McClelland, a Sedona resident since 1987, and grandson Kevin Jackson, graduate of SRRHS 03 and now residing in Scottsdale.
Joan requested that there be no funeral services but donations may be made in her memory to the Friends of the Forest (PO Box 2391, Sedona AZ 86339) or the Sedona Humane Society.