Joann was born to Esther McHone (Farquhar/Merrill) and Elbert Farquhar on Jan 17,1937. In 1945, Joann, along with her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncle, worked their way from Missouri to a new life in California
Joann's adventures started when she was little, traveling to the golden state of California.  The entire family caravaned from Missouri, stopping to work along the way.  Doing farming work helped to pay for travel and living expenses as Joann and her family moved west just as WWII was ending.  Although Joann was little, she worked alongside her family and learned at a young age what it meant to work hard.  But she also learned how to laugh and to love all those who came into contact with her.  Joann was a bit naive but was adventurous enough to drive off in her mother's car while her mother shopped.  Hopping behind the wheel, Joann drove home"just to see what it was like". (A trait she never lost.) It did not occur to her at the time that she had never driven before, did not have a driver's license and had her baby brother along for the ride.  Needless to say, she got into big trouble, but unlike some of her younger aunts (Lela, Verna and Norma) it was only one of the few times she ever really got into mischief.