In Loving Memory of Joel "Joe" James Green

Joel “Joe” James Green passed away March 18th, 2026, age 64. He was born
February 7th, 1962, in Omaha Nebraska to James “Jimmy” and Helen
(Butcher) Green, now Cureton.

A son, brother, cousin, uncle, husband, and father, Joe was a gentle and
loving soul whose kindness touched everyone who knew him. He grew up in
Omaha and later in Yelm, Washington, where his mother remarried and
Gordon Cureton entered his life as stepfather. In his early life,
curiosity and drive earned him many adventures. As a student, he was
known for going above and beyond what was needed. He graduated from Yelm
High School with the class of 1980. Joe enlisted as a navy reservist
after high school from 1981 - 1986. He learned and taught karate for
years, achieving the rank of brown belt. Joe Green and April Taylor were
married in 1989, and while their marriage would end, their friendship
resumed after a time and remained so for the rest of his life. He would
also become a father in 1989 and again in 1995. He loved his family. He
is remembered as being steadfast and fair, and saying sorry when he was
wrong. When asked in later years what was most important to him, his
reply was “family”. He was a hard worker, dedicated to his kids, was
thrifty, but knew how to create joy for himself and others. Active, and
genuine in nature, he is remembered doing everything from driving his
car with rock music blasting while drumming on the steering wheel the
same way he did his drums, sending friends and family alike flying with
the family ski boat, to sneaking up to the top floor of the apartment
building to fly paper airplanes with his grandchildren. A life-long
woodworker, he made cabinets for many years and became a skilled
craftsman and specialty furniture maker. He would build anything you
asked for and take great pride in doing it. He was known for his
kindness to strangers, and always eager to tell a joke and make someone
laugh. He was always willing to help out his friends in need, and his
generosity extended beyond family & friendship. He was loved deeply by
many, especially his mother and children. His life, his love, and his
gentle spirit will never be forgotten. Though our hearts are heavy, we
trust that he is now at peace in the presence of the Lord.

Joe is survived by April Green, his former wife and friend, of South
Bend, his children, Michelle (Green) and Ben Tustin, and grandchildren
Max and Alex, of Montana, Joel “Joey” James Green II, of South Bend,
sister Kim Green of Yelm, brother Dennis & his wife Ruth Green of
Arizona, Mother Helen Cureton of Yelm, and numerous nieces, nephews,
cousins, and their children. He is preceded in death by his father James
“Jimmy” L. Green, and stepfather Gordon Cureton.

The family is being cared for by Bayview Funeral Home in Raymond, WA. He
will be laid to rest in Yelm Cemetery.