Celebration of Life for Lucy ‘Joy’ O’Brien, 90, Hood River moved to Vancouver, Wash.
The family of Lucy Olive "Joy" O'Brien has changed the location of her celebration of life because of wildfire smoke, according to Anderson's Tribute Center.
The service will still be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, but will now take place at the Best Western Premier, 1500 S.E. 167th Ave., Vancouver, Washington, rather than the previously announced location.
O'Brien died July 2, 2026, in Vancouver, Washington, at the age of 90.
Lucy Olive “Joy” O’Brien passed peacefully with family by her side on Thursday July 2nd, 2026, in Vancouver Washington at the age of 90 years.
Joy was delivered by her grandmother Lucy Pugh in Chataqua, Kansas on September 2nd, 1935. Her parents were James M Carter and Cora H Pugh Carter.
In the early 1940’s the family moved to the Hood River Valley where Joy grew up attending Barrett Elementary School and Wy’East High School.
In 1953 she met and married Robert “Bob” Walls and they made their home locally where Joy worked in the Hood River Valley packing industry, as a waitress, and a homemaker. After they divorced in 1959, Joy moved to California where she met Harold “Pat” O’Brien and they were married in 1961.
Joy and Pat moved back to Hood River Valley and started a dairy farm in Parkdale, where Joy was also a school bus driver. Around 1973 Joy and Pat relocated to Vale Oregon to continue dairy farming. Around 1979 Joy became single again and moved to Eugene Oregon and then lived temporarily in Nebraska. Eventually she moved to California to be near family and become a bakery hostess until she retired and settled in Salome, Az.
After she retired, she traveled throughout the US visiting Graceland, family, and friends in various states. She loved Elvis Presley and collecting things about Elvis’s career.
Joy is survived by her daughter Rosetta Walls, sons Tony (Kathy) Walls and Rickey (Desiree) O’Brien. She has 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her son Patrick Jr. O’Brien, her parents, and brothers Carl Carter, Cecil Carter, Con Carter and sister Jewel Davidson.
A Celebration of Life is planned for 1pm, August 7th, 2026 at the Best Western Premier in Vancouver, Washington (1500 SE 167th Avenue).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Healthcare for Justice at https://healthcareforjustice.org/. This organization was very special to Joy because it was founded by her grandson Dr. Anthony Walls and his wife Emily.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com
