Delivered by the hard working hands of her father at the Burbery family ranch outside of Loomis, Wash. Joy was born January 13, 1934 to Samuel Richard “Dick” Burbery and Lula Lenora (Garrett). She was the youngest of their seven children and was raised with two sisters and four brothers: Harold Richard, Ellen Grace, John Leslie, Iris May, Charles Glen and Robert Lloyd.
Joy and all of the Burbery children attended grade school at the Bungalow School in Horse Spring Coulee which was built on land donated by their grandparents Robert and Mary Ellen Garrett. When Joy reached her junior-high years she went to school in Loomis where she completed the eighth grade and in 1952 graduated from the Tonasket High School.
On Dec. 26 of that same year she married her long time sweetheart Vernon “Buck” Workman. Buck & Joy were married at “The Bungalow” in Tonasket and then moved to a small starter home in Okanogan closer to Buck’s work with the Great Northern Railroad. Two children were born while living there; one daughter, Lula Rene’ and one son Buck Duane. Due to Buck’s job, the family briefly lived in Wilson Creek, Gold Bar, and then on to Tonasket. In the fall of 1962 they settled permanently in Okanogan where Joy lived until her untimely passing on July 18, 2014 at the age of 80 years due to an untreatable lung cancer.
Joy was a hardworking and loving wife, mother and homemaker. She kept a neat home, raised a garden, and when her children were older she went to work packing fruit in Okanogan for nearly 25 years before retiring. She loved her grandchildren dearly and devoted many hours of care for her great-grandchildren. Making them each blankets; crotched hats, afghans, slippers and beautiful bed dolls for each of her great-granddaughters.
Joy and Buck were inseparable. They did some traveling with friends and family to destinations such as Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona,Oregon, Missouri, Florida and a train trip to Quebec, Canada. Joy also made a special trip to North Carolina with her mother, sister and niece to visit the family home where her grandfather, Robert Garrett was raised. Of all the places she went, her favorite places were where she could walk on the beaches near an ocean. She loved the sound of the waves and the majesty of a sunrise or sunset over the water brought her much calm, peace and serenity. Joy bowled for many years, took several motorcycle trips with Buck and was an active member of the local Good Sam RV group.
Preceding her in death were her father “Dick” (1972); her mother Lula (2014); her eldest brother Harold (2014) and older sisters Iris Michels (1992) and Ellen Stotts (2012).
To celebrate her life Joy leaves behind her devoted husband Buck of 61 years; both of her children René Hinderer (Rob) of LaCrosse, Wash. and Buck Workman (Pat) of Okanogan. Four grandsons; Justin Workman and Jeffrey Workman (Alaura) both of Okanogan and Wesley Hinderer and Wyatt Hinderer both of Spokane; and four great-grandchildren; Emma Jean, Lainey Mae, Carter Lee, and Carley Rae.
She also leaves behind three brothers John Burbery, Chuck (Dickie) Burbery, and Lloyd (Barb) Burbery all of Tonasket and one sister in law Mary Burbery of Oroville, Calif. As well as two brothers in law; Chuck Workman (Marie) of Lewiston, Idaho and Frank Workman of Pullman, Wash. Also remaining are numerous cousins, nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
Services will be held Saturday August 2, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Precht – Harrison – Nearents Funeral Chapelat 2547 Elmway St., Okanogan, Wash. with the Pastor Chris Warren officiating. Interment will follow at the Okanogan Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial contributions in Joy’s honor be made to: Friends of Hospice – 800 S Jasmine Street, Suite 2, Omak, WA 98841; A local chapter of the American Red Cross for the local fire victims; or any other non-profit charity of the donor’s choice.
