Joan Cousins

JOAN COUSINS

Cedar Rapids

Joan Darlene (Parsons) Cousins died Feb. 11, 2014, from a long illness.

Joan was born in Cedar Rapids on Jan. 29, 1931. She spent most of her school career in Marion,

especially enjoying music classes and singing. Friends nicknamed her

Percy!

Joan experienced many career moves in her life: she worked on the farm, ran a payroll office at

Martin Marietta and

retired from Iowa Glass.

She loved to travel and explore the world around her. Joan didn't get to leave her beloved city

often later in life, but her

imagination, love of

reading books and

watching movies and

television helped her to continue to enjoy

American history,

geography and

archaeology.

Joan also had a great love for animals, especially dogs.

Joan was married three times: Humphrey Carbaugh Jr., Roy Meeks and Mervyn Cousins Sr. Can you imagine the

reunion in heaven!

Our Mom had three

children, Michael Carbaugh, Judy Carbaugh (Greg Truman) and Diane Meeks Hung (Edwin Hung). Her children appreciate the love of music she has passed on to them and her sons-in-law often fight over who

loves her more. Five grandchildren can be found one upping each other with stories about her

unfiltered comments, quick wit and vast wisdom of life. Great-grandson Kael Vasser will love hearing their stories of her. She had five stepchildren, Mervyn Jr., Kathy, Lori, Greg and Jackie; and many stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren who will miss her.

Also missing her will be sisters Susan Boyle and Lynda Parsons.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents,

Theodore and Ada Parsons; brother, Don Parsons; and her beautiful son, Michael Carbaugh. Her beloved

husband, "Cuz," went to be with the Lord in 1998.

Joan lived many years at Westover Manor

Apartments and passed away while staying at Northbrook Manor

Nursing Home.

Memorial services are 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at River of Life Ministries, 3801 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids.