Joan (Boyer) Yohey

Joan (Boyer) Yohey, age 93 went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 after a brief illness, at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

She spent the last six years in her bungalow in the Meadows Development in Danville under the 24-hour care of Robin Wood, Amanda Wood and Brandon Wood her round the clock care givers.

Born on November 21, 1930 in Shamokin, Joan had an idyllic childhood until her junior year of high school when her parents moved to Forty Fort. In Shamokin, she used to take tickets at the theatre and was able to watch free movies. Her Aunt Hilda taught her to play piano. She had many friends and loved her life.

At Forty Fort, her last year of high school, she graduated at the top of her class. She worked in a dry-cleaning store briefly until she met the love of her life, Clyde E. Yohey.

Her family owned a cottage near the creek at the entrance at Knoebel’s Grove. Clyde had recently finished in the U.S. Army and had a new car. He drove by Joan, who was mowing the lawn. He got permission to take her to Knoebel’s using his sister, Edna as a chaperone.

Clyde built a home on Old Berwick Road and attended Bloomsburg State Teachers College, where he played soccer until the money from the Army ran out, worked third shift as a hospital orderly and built homes on the side. On May 28, 1949, Joan and Clyde were married.

Clyde and Joan briefly worked at the Magee Carpet Company, Clyde on the floor and Joan working the teletype machine. Joan decided to paint and do other work on the homes Clyde was building.

Clyde built many of the unique homes in Scenic Knolls, and many of the original homes on Hillside Estates. He created more than 250 structures. In 1955, Joan had had enough of being only a mother to her children and wanted a business of her own to run.

Clyde started building the Stone Castle Motel and Restaurant in 1957 and opened it in 1958. Joan ran the office, hired the employees and was ecstatic to run the business. Clyde meanwhile, went across the river and built a new development called Wonderview. In time, he added the Wonderview Ski Lodge.

In its heyday, the motel had Bloomsburg Fair guests such as The Osmond Brothers (before Donny and Marie), Anita Bryant, Brenda Lee, David Birney, Dale Robertson, Peggy and Kathy Lennon, Jimmy Dean and the Three Dog Night.

Joan and Clyde regularly attended the Mifflinville United Methodist Church. Joan was treasurer for thirty years, taught adult Sunday school and sang in the choir. Clyde built the parsonage and they contributed in other significant ways.

Joan visited Clyde for eighteen years of winters in Venice, Florida. She was not a fan of the sun, but she was always up for going to the movies.

After leaving the eighty-four room motel, Joan was very happy in the bungalow at the Meadows watching nonstop movies without interruption. At the motel she could never recall watching a movie. Her favorite movies were Showboat, The Sound of Music, Random Harvest and Sabrina. Howard Keel was her favorite singer.

Joan was preceded in death by Clyde on September 7, 2011, severing 62 years of marriage. Also passing ahead of Joan were her parents, Charles Sr., and Mary Boyer, and three siblings, Charles, Jr., Barry and Mary Louise Green.

Surviving Joan are her daughter, Linda Sheeler of Nescopeck, son David Yohey and wife Sue of Bloomsburg, daughter Debbi Yohey of East Stroudsburg, John Yohey and wife Angela of Bloomsburg, a granddaughter, Danielle DiNaro Kluk and her husband Jason of Kunkletown. Two grandsons, Lee Garrett Yohey of Danville and Travis Yohey and his wife Lexi of Bloomsburg. Two great granddaughters, Ella DiNaro-Ransel and Evelyn Joan Kluk of Kunkletown.

Everyone is invited to attend the graveside services which will be held on Saturday at 11:00 am at Elan Memorial Park, 5595 Old Berwick Road, Bloomsburg, with Pastor Charles N. Chamberlain III, pastor of Bloomsburg Southern Baptist Church, officiating. There will be no viewing. Flowers will be provided by the family.

Memorials may be sent to the Mifflinville United Methodist Church, PO Box U, Mifflinville, PA  18631.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Dean W Kriner, Inc Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.