Joan Ellen Maybank passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on January 31, 2026, in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 71. Joan built community and created joy wherever she went. She was an accomplished musician and an avid swimmer, hiker, kayaker, cross-country skier, and gardener.
Born to Herbert and Mary Maybank on November 27, 1954, in Edmonton, Alberta, Joan spent her childhood on the banks of Lake Ontario in the tight-knit community of Lorne Park Estates in Mississauga, Ontario. A lifelong learner, Joan has degrees in Animal Health Care (Fairview College, 1977) and Library Science (Vancouver Community College, 1992) as well as a Bachelor of Arts and Teaching Certificate (Antioch University, 2002) and a Master of Library and Information Science (University of Washington, 2004). Joan found a lifelong passion in her career as a librarian, and one of the great joys of her life was connecting with students and sharing a love of reading. She retired from the Edmonds School District in 2025. Joan found homes as the school librarian at Beverly Elementary, Lynnwood High School, and Scriber Lake High School.
Joan is survived by her children, Matthew Gothard, Brendan Michel, and Anna Michel; her daughters-in-law, Jennifer LeRoux and Julia Hayden; her brother, Douglas Maybank; and her grandson, Luke, with whom she had a special bond. Joan was, and will remain, adored by her many cherished friends and community members.
A celebration of life will be held at the Lake Ballinger Center in Mountlake Terrace, WA, on March 29, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome contributions to the Joan Maybank Scholarship via the Foundation for the Edmonds School District.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
One Response
As her neighbor, I enjoyed listening to her musical practice sessions over the fence and provided occasional applause. She will be missed.