Joan Marie Chamberlain

Joan Marie Chamberlain, 95, long time resident of Fredonia, Kansas, passed away Monday, December 5, 2022. Joan was born on November 22, 1927 in Cedarvale Kansas to Vardry and Vesta (Bohanan) Hutton. Joan graduated from Fredonia High School in 1944. She married Bill Chamberlain in Fredonia, Kansas. They later divorced.

At the age of 17, right of high school, Joan and her sister Betty Cook, age 19, at the insistence of their mother, opened the well known and loved store, “Modern Miss.” Joan was responsible for the beautiful window displays and much of the work, while Betty was responsible for the purchasing. The store was a staple of the Fredonia Square until 2019. Joan was an excellent seamstress, although she never allowed her daughters to wear anything that wasn’t ready made. She made thousands of aprons for a craft store in Clovis, California and frequently helped her brother-in-law, Max Cook, sewing for Fredonia Drapery. Joan was a silent, stable part of her community, helping at her church, girl scouts and anywhere else she was needed. Joan was a member of the Grace First Church in Fredonia, Kansas and loved her grandchildren and working in her store.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Janet Sonnier, Orange County, California and Jean Ann Chamberlain, Brockville Ontario, Canada; Grandchildren Esau, Mazero, Brockville Ontario, Canada, Jennissa Gertge,

Fort Collins, Colorado, Jocilyn Ray, San Clemente, California and Joy Wilk, Denver, Colorado; 6 Great-Grandchildren.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Vardry and Vesta Hutton and sister, Betty Cook.

Graveside services will be at the Fredonia City Cemetery Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 1:30 pm, with Ray Pile officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Grace First Church. These may be left at or sent to Wickham Family Funeral Home 510 N. 7th Fredonia, Kansas 66736