Joy Boehm Worrell

Our creative, passionate, beautiful Joy Boehm Frasier passed away on a sunny fall day on October 6, 2026 at Eureka Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Eureka, Ca, with her husband, Kelly Worrell, and her best friend, Robin Paul, by her side. Joy was born on March 13, 1935 in Los Angelas, California, to Mary and Em Boehm. Joy was their only child and was cherished by her parents. At age 10, in 1935, Joy and her family moved to Pepperwood, CA, in Humboldt County. The Boehm’s bought the Pepperwood Cafe and after the 1955 flood rebuilt the cafe renaming it Boehm’s Cafe. They operated the cafe until it washed down the Eel River in the 1964 flood. Joy spent her childhood from age 11 working along side her parents at the cafe and attended a one room schoolhouse in Pepperwood, CA. Joy also attended Fortuna High School and graduated in 1952. She was the president of the Girls League Cabinet and the Girls Athletic Association. Joy played the saxophone in the school band and sang in the Girls choir. During high school is when Joy discovered drama. At age 18, in 1952, Joy went off to college at San Jose University. She majored in Art. After college Joy worked locally for Bank of America and Safeway. Joy spread her wings and in 1960 entered Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre. During the next four years Joy’s life was full of many experiences. She graduated with a Bachelor in Theatre Arts, married, had her only child, Kelly Brown, and became a widow when Kelly was only 10 months old due to a traffic accident. In 1965 Joy went back to school at California State University of Los Angelas for a Masters Degree in Drama, minor in Arts and a junior college teaching credential. Joy moved back to Humboldt and taught drama at the College of the Redwoods. She then moved to Hawaii for 15 years. Earned her Actors Guild card there on “Magnum PI” as well as a Master Degree in Social Work at the University of Hawaii. It was also during this time she owned and operated a Bed and Breakfast Inn on the north side of Oahu in the village of Kaava. In 1997, Joy returned to Humboldt County and passed the California State Boards to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Over the years Joy worked for the HART Program, Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Fortuna and the Scotia Health Center. She also opened her private practice, “Practical Therapy”. Joy met Kelly Worrell in 1997 while taking a dance class. They enjoyed travel, plays, concerts and HSU football. They married on Valentines Day in 2010. Together they created her “Rustic Garden Art” garden containing a labyrinth and gazebo. This garden gave such joy and happiness to Joy which she loved to share with her family and friends. Joy was a lifetime member of the Fortuna Senior Center and was a prolific writer. She self published her book, “What’s Passion Got To Do With It?”, containing many poems, essays and writings of her life experiences. Joy was predeceased in death by her parents and her son, Kelly Brown. She is survived by her husband, Kelly Worrell, and many friends in Humboldt and beyond.