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Joan G. (Lee) Durham, 91, of Bethany, Missouri, passed away Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Daviess County Nursing Home in Gallatin, Missouri.
Joan was born on May 22, 1933 in Camden, NJ to Nathan and Elsie (Alberger) Lee. She attended and graduated from Florence High School in Florence, New Jersey, and then attended Burlington County College.
She married Franklin Christman on July 15, 1955. Franklin joined the United States Army and was stationed in Panama. While in Panama, they became parents with the birth of a son, Franklin II. They returned to the United States and were blessed with a son, Mark, and a daughter, Kathleen. Joan and Franklin divorced in July 1971, and she assumed responsibility for raising their three children. She worked as an office manager at Cadillac Movers in Burlington, NJ.
Joan married her longtime friend, Robert Durham, on July 20, 1974. They organized and led Campground Ministries in Williamstown, New Jersey, for seven years. They moved to Terre Haute, Indiana in December 1990 where Robert started a new job. They attended Faith Wesleyan Church, and Joan taught one of the adult Sunday school classes. They moved to Mount Moriah, Missouri in May 1994. There they attended Mount Moriah Baptist Church where she taught adult Sunday school and Robert became a worship leader and ordained deacon. They moved to Salinas, California in 2001 where they started and led church services at the Salinas Care Center for three years. After living in California for 15 years, they moved to Bethany, Missouri.
The Lord blessed Joan and Robert with good singing voices and they sang duets together for nearly 35 years. Their performances included churches in seven states, revivals, funerals, camp ministries, and nursing home ministries.
Joan was a quilter and made numerous quilts as well as many Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls, earning her the nickname “Raggedy Joan”.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Nathan and Elsie Lee; her husband, Robert Durham; her Aunt Sally; her stepson, Robert Durham Jr.; and her son-in-law, Dennis Brady.
She is survived by her sons, Franklin Christman II and his wife Ann and Mark Christman; her daughter, Kathleen Netsheim and her husband, Mark; her sister Ann Mills and her husband Fred; 16 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Joan was cremated under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, 1107 S. 25th St., Bethany, MO 64424. A graveside service will be held at a later date.
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