Joan Lou (Gage) Cravens Age 91 Phoenix, Arizona Joan passed peacefully into heaven on March 28, 2024, hours after enjoying a sunny Arizona spring day outdoors with her family. We will miss her resilient, independent approach to life’s challenges and hearty revel in its pleasures! Joan was born December 12, 1932, in Binghamton, Broome County, New York, the only child of Margaret (Varro) and Meredith Gage. The responsibilities of a sole child of working parents in the Great Depression founded her steadfast determination and grit. She graduated from Washington Irving Junior High in Schenectady, NY, aspiring in her yearbook to become an airline hostess. She moved to rural Scotia, NY to start high school, after her mother married Joan’s beloved stepdad, William Snowden. She thrived at Scotia High School, where she was the class secretary and queen of the Senior Ball of the Class of 1950. Joan returned to Schenectady after graduation and worked patiently at the American Locomotive Company until she turned 21, when she could pursue her career dream, enrolling at the Grace Downs Airline School in New York City. Joan was then hired by Capital Airlines, and enjoyed her single adulthood employed as a stewardess based in the Capital hub city of Chicago, IL. Joan made a determinative flight to visit her Aunt Irene in Phoenix, Arizona in the spring of 1958; Irene conspired with Marion Cravens to arrange a blind date with her son Robert Bennett (“Ben”), who had returned from US Air Force. Their romance was whirlwind; engagement was announced within 2 weeks and matrimony on the first day of summer, less than 2 months after their first meeting. Ben and Joan Cravens were married for 50 years before his passing in 2008. Joan was a dedicated wife, Mom and “Gma”. Joan’s home for 65 years was Arizona, where she embraced Phoenix and the Southwestern lifestyle. She explored the Arizona outdoors and particularly enjoyed “being on the water”. She revered the Camelback Mountain vistas with change of light and season. Joan supported her community as a member of the Heard Museum Guild and the (St. Luke’s) Board of Visitors. She and Ben were active in the Arizona Trucking Association and the Utility Trailer Management Council. She played golf and tennis at Phoenix Country Club and loved to fish both saltwater and Arizona’s White Mountain lakes. Joan is survived by her sons Robert (Karrie) and George (Erin), grandchildren Mitchell, Matthew (Emily), Paige (Caleb), Natalie (Jake), Julia and great-grandchildren Beau, Elijah and Griffin. We all love you and we will never forget your playful and enduring style! We plan a celebration of Joan’s life on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 11:00 AM in the Grace Chapel at Scottsdale Bible Church, 7601 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Consider honoring Joan with a contribution to the Heard Museum: https://heard.org/make-a-donation/