Joanne Marie Royer Medeiros

Bountiful, UT – In the late hours of March 9th, 2019 our Tutu, Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, Joanne Marie Royer Medeiros, peacefully passed on and reunited with the love of her life, Moroni LaVon Leurs Kaonohiokala Kealiiokalani Medeiros, after 35 years of separation.

Born July 10, 1934 in Long Beach, California. Joanne loved to be in the water. At the age of 10, Joanne started swimming with the Pacific Coast Aquabelles Club which had a synchronized swimming team. Joanne's first news clippings is dated 1947 ….just 13 years old. In 1951, at the age of 17, Joanne's team took First Place at the Junior National Synchronized Swimming Championships in Long Beach, California. A year later, she won First Place Solo at the Southern Pacific Association of the AAU Synchronized Swimming Championships in Long Beach, California. The rest is history. Joanne dominated nearly every Solo Synchronized Swimming competition in the United States (indoor/ outdoor) for the rest of her swimming career. For three years, she traveled with the U.S. States Department Special Services Tour with Aquacade to Eastern States, Guatemala, and Japan.

In 1955, she was a Bronze Medalist at the Pan-American Games in Mexico City.  A year later, she was a member the United States Synchronized Swimming Team that demonstrated the sport at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. Joanne was a two-time AAU All-American Swimming Champion (1954-1955).  In 1984, Joanne was thrilled that Synchronized Swimming finally made its official entry into the Summer Olympics Games in Los Angeles, California.  Joanne was inducted into the Riverside, California Sports Hall of Fame and on October 10, 2015, The Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame.  Joanne is considered one of the pioneers of Synchronized Swimming today. Joanne was a graduate of Long Beach State College.

Joanne married the love of her life, Moroni LaVon Leurs Kaonohiokala Kealiiokalani Medeiros on January 30, 1956 in Las Vegas, NV. Later, their love was sealed in the Los Angeles California Temple operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with their three children for time and all eternity. In 1967, Joanne & Moroni packed up the three kids (Parry, Jay, and Darren) and moved to Hawaii. Joanne taught Physical Education at Radford High School for 24 years before retiring and relocating to Salt Lake City, Utah. She was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints all her life and her last Church assignment as an organist in the Bountiful, Utah Temple. Despite her many accomplishments and awards earned, her greatest accomplishments were ultimately found within the walls of her own home with her family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She will always be remembered for her selfless, unconditional love & compassion towards her family. She truly lived and emulated every principal and doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.        

Survived by her three sons: Parry (Susan) Medeiros, Jay (Carlyn) Medeiros, and Darren (Tammy) Medeiros, brother Ed (Sandy) Royer, cousin Dick (Linda) Rathbun, 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents (William & Marie Royer) and her husband Moroni LaVon Leurs Kaonohiokala Kealiiokalani Medeiros.

The family would like to express our gratitude to the University of Utah Stroke Rehabilitation Team, especially Dr. Steven Edgley for treating Joanne with world class care over the last 4 ½ years of her life. We also express gratitude to Creekside Senior Living – Memory Care Unit Staff and Alpha Home Health & Hospice Nurses (Barbara, Tomeka, Karolee, and Dawn) and staff. Their Christ-like care & compassionate service towards Joanne will always be remembered.

Viewing will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 pm., Sunday March 24, 2019 at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main, Bountiful. A Celebration of Joanne's life will be held at a future date. Interment will be at Mililani Memorial Park – Waipahu, HI.