JOAN Evelyn Johnston was born in Suffolk, England, on April 10, 1919, to Jenny and Herb Hollands.
She and sister Kitty migrated to Australia with their parents in 1926 on the SS Baradine.
They came to Western Australia via the Group Settlement Scheme which would open up the South West.
The family was granted land with Group 74, now known as Forest Grove on Warner Glen Road.
Mrs Johnston went to Group 74 school but, each day before and after school, would work on the farm, milking cows and doing other farm duties.
She and Kitty walked an hour to school and home again on a winding bush track.
Later, sister Mavis and brother Clem were born.
Mrs Johnston was a keen horse rider and later she and Kitty would go to Margaret River dances in a horse-drawn cart, leaving hours before to get there on time.
At age 17, Joan married Benjamin Parry and had two children, Norman and Pamela.
In 1942, her husband was killed in action at al Alamein during the North Africa campaign.
In 1944, Joan married Fred Dennis and together they had two children, Malcolm and Rhonda. She worked alongside Fred on their farm at Rosa Brook.
Old time dancing was popular and the pair often travelled to other areas to attend dances. Ms Johnston was also known for her beautiful singing voice.
In 1964 the pair sold the farm and moved to Margaret River where her husband worked for the Forestry Depart ment and later became manager of the district club.
Once again his wife worked alongside, doing bar work and cleaning the premises.
For several years she also worked at the Margaret River Hospital as a domestic.
In 1966 she had a serious car accident, suffering a badly broken leg and other injuries.
She spent nine weeks in St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, followed by months of recuperation.
Her husband died in 1972 while out fishing.
Mrs Johnston enjoyed all sports throughout her life, including hockey, tennis, golf and darts. She excelled in bowls, competing throughout Australia and in Norfolk Island.
Locally, she won the Leeuwin League singles championships eight times and the Margaret River singles championships 15 times. She cherished her bowling accolades.
In the mid-1970s she married Bert Johnston and lived in Tunbridge Street until he died, at the age of 91.
She once said: "While I had three husbands I have never divorced."
At the age of 75 she achieved another lifelong ambition when she did a parachute jump.
Then 11 years later she was diagnosed with pericarditis, marking the beginning of her life in care.
Mrs Johnston spent one year in Glover House, then eight years in Mirambeena, until she died peacefully at the age of 95 on July 16.
She was a proud mother of four, grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of 17.
Mrs Johnston will be sadly missed by all who knew her for her great sense of humour and her cheerful nature.