Joan Schlager James Douglass of Fairview Lake, Tafton, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

Joan was the daughter of the late Harold Frederick James and Julia Schlager Ames James of Maple Avenue, Hawley, whose families were among the town's earliest residents. She was born December 29, 1929, at Wayne County Hospital in Honesdale.

A graduate of Hawley High School, she was the Salutatorian of the Class of 1947. She attended the Home Economics Department at Mansfield State Teachers College in Mansfield, PA, and the Elementary Education Department at the State University of New York in New Paltz, NY. She was a graduate of the Special Education Department of the Teachers College at Columbia University, New York, NY.

She worked in several different fields during her career, first as the Food Service Supervisor for the New York State Department of Social Welfare at the Thomas Indian School in Iroquois, NY, for six years; then she was the Curator at the Memorial House Museum at the Jean Hasbrouck House in New Paltz, NY, for three years. She was a Special Education and Elementary Education Teacher in New Paltz and Kingston, NY, public schools for seven years.

After returning back to the area where she was born and raised, Joan was a Elementary Education Teacher for Wallenpaupack Area School District for nine years; and then became the owner and operator of the Craft House gift shop, 519 Church St., Hawley, for 18 years.

After her retirement in 1995, Joan realized her life-long dream of devoting more time to watercolor painting.

Joan belonged to several educational and art associations and was a juried artist member of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society.

She and her family lived for several years in the Freer House National Historic Site, Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY, and she was a life member of the Huguenot Historical Society.

Joan was a member of the Reformed Church, New Paltz, NY and the Hawley United Methodist Church and the Hawley Methodist Women. She also served for many years on the Church Memorial Committee which was founded by her mother.

She is survived by her husband of 73 years: Alfred John Douglass; one daughter: Lynda Joan Baker of East Greenwich, RI; one son: James Ross Douglass and his wife Megan Mahoney Douglass of Basalt, CO; two grandchildren: Wade Douglass Baker of Rhode Island and Linzhi Patricia Douglass of Basalt, CO; one nephew: J. Christopher Marshall and his family; and one niece: Melissa Marshall Bartkow and her family of Hawley and Paupack.

Joan was predeceased by twin infant daughters: Elizabeth Jean Douglass and Fanny Schlager Douglass; her sister: Fanny James Marshall; and a son-in-law: Donald Baker.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Brushes For Vincent, 374 Industrial Park Drive, Boone, NC 28607 or the Hawley United Methodist Church, 315 Church St., Hawley, PA 18428.