Known as a fun gal at the University of Washington, Joan Wycoff had her choice of suitors.
Paul Lucas had religion in common with residents at the Methodist student dorm.
When Lucas’ best friend told him he was going to ask Wycoff to a dance, Lucas told a whopper: He said he had already booked a date with the popular coed.
Lucas then rushed to the dorm and asked the woman with the wonderful personality to the dance.
She said “yes,” and the rest is history.
Their marriage lasted 52 years. Joan Lucas of Stanwood died Sept. 19 at age 76 of pancreatic cancer.
Her son Paul Jr. said his mother was well known in the arts community. She taught art at the YMCA in Everett and helped start Creative Arts Association of Everett.
Her medium was oil, but that was hardly the extent of her talents. All three sons attended Everett High School, where Lucas designed costumes for the drama department.
She noticed an artistic side to her young son.
“She took me to an acting class,” her son said. “I wrote a skit at Jackson Elementary and I was the star.”
His mother taught him to keep an open mind toward trying new things. He said he’s now done TV commercials for Asia, Europe and Australia and played a geeky scientist last year for a national TV commercial for “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
His mother, Carmen Joan Lucas, was born April 12, 1930, in Freeman, Wash., to Archie and Grace Wycoff. She was the youngest of 10 children. She studied at Whitworth College and the University of Washington. She was active in the Snohomish County Audubon Society and Cub Scouts, taught Sunday school at the First Methodist Church in Everett, and wrote articles after returning to the University of Washington to get her master’s degree in journalism.
She is survived by her husband, Evan; sons and daughters-in-law Stan and Carol of Woodinville; Paul and Fiona Knight of Singapore; and Ken and Michiyo of Burbank, Calif.; grandchildren Harry and Gabey; and sisters Ardyce Johnson of Eugene, Ore.; and Leona Scheminske of Beaverton, Ore.
Joan Lucas owned Pathfinder Maps. She produced hand drawn maps of Camano and Whidbey islands. The artist drove and drove around the islands to update the maps sold at local stores and used by firefighters.
Linda Senter, director of public relations with Luther Child Center, said Lucas worked as an intern on two projects.
“One was the Pebble Award, developed to present annually to a person or organization who had contributed to the benefit of children, as when a pebble dropped into the water causes far-reaching ripples,” Senter said. “Joan designed a lovely art-glass piece representing the ripple effect and worked with a glass artist, who produced the pieces.”
For Luther, Lucas also wrote articles on mental health issues used for resource information. People could call a number and request recorded information on any of the many subjects.
After Paul Lucas retired from social service work, the couple enjoyed traveling to Japan and Europe.
They rowed on Lake Martha, ate at Chuckanut Manor and watched PBS.
For dress up, she donned a Cambodian jacket.
“It was all hand done,” Paul Jr. said. “She wore it to be unique.”
He said his mother didn’t tell jokes, but she was a goof-off. She would take out her two removable front teeth and make funny faces. She initiated family water fights. She wrote letters and made fluffy biscuits and a mean pot roast.
Paul Jr. said folks avoided his mother on the phone because she could talk for two straight hours.
“Dad was the quiet one,” Paul Lucas said. “He couldn’t get a word in edgewise.”
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
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