Joan Murillo

Joan Murillo passed away peacefully in her sleep Aug. 23, 2023, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Joan, or Joanie as she liked to be called, embraced life with every fiber of her being with her heart and arms wide open. She loved yoga, her gardens, her dogs, friends, and family, and enjoyed her wine and margaritas.

Joanie was the only child of James and Hilda Kopka, presumably polish immigrants to the United States.

Joanie was born in 1935 and graduated from Piedmont High School in the East Bay in California when she was just 17 years of age. Joanie married Harold Jarvis just after high school and followed the 1953 marriage with two children, Craig who was born in 1955, and Kristie in 1957.

From a close group of friends came her second marriage – in 1969 she and Carlos Murillo wed in a private ceremony in Carmel. Her marriage to Carlos added three of his own children, Rebecca, Michael and Randy, and Joanie embraced all the children as though they were her own.

Joanie went back to school after the children grew up at Diablo Valley College where she studied psychology. She later spent many happy years as a salesperson in a cookware store – a natural for her.

In the early years following their marriage, Carlos and Joanie developed a wide group of friends they would remain close to for their entire lives. They were frequently traveling, entertaining, and exploring – seemingly constantly on the go and always looking for fun.

While Joanie and Carlos lived in the East Bay for most of their marriage, a move to Murphys (in the central foothills) followed by Carlos’ retirement gave them a whole new community of friends, and a wonderful final chapter in life. The town of Murphys welcomed Joanie and Carlos with open arms, and within a year they fit in so well it’s as though they were residents all their lives.

Joanie became active in the local church, and Carlos went to the local bakery every day for a latte and croissant for Joanie – with the dogs always getting a crumb or two. Sadly, Carlos left us too soon (in 2016), and Joanie, Kristie and the dogs moved to Arizona a few years later.

Joanie lived the final years of her life displaying a proud and quiet dignity, despite a painful nerve affliction that came on years earlier.

She is survived by her children, Craig (wife, Jolene, grandchildren, Blaine and Bailey) her best friend and daughter, Kristie; and her stepchildren, Rebecca, Michael, and Randy. She was a wonderful empathic soul with a sweet, giving, and loving disposition and she will be deeply missed.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary, 12065 N. Saguaro Blvd.