Joyce Kearney - Remembering a Friend and Fellow Bigfoot Researcher
 |
(all photos by Tom Yamarone except where noted) |
JOYCE KEARNEY - REMEMBERING A FRIEND
by Tom Yamarone
September 23, 2013
Joyce Kearney left us last week – unexpectedly passing away
much to the dismay and shock of her family and friends. She was very
independent, kind, caring, intelligent and passionate about many things. One of
her passions was sasquatch/bigfoot research. For the past seven years, I have
known Joyce as a close friend and fellow bigfoot enthusiast. We spoke often,
met at least once a month and collaborated on some historic bigfoot
conferences. Our friendship spanned a fraction of her life – a good part; the
last part and it was interesting and inspiring in our mutual interest in
bigfoot.
 |
| Joyce with Chester |
Joyce Marie Kearney was born in San Francisco , California Palo
Alto and San Francisco ,
CA
 |
| February 1968 cover of Argosy |
Her interest in the bigfoot phenomenon began when she saw
the Argosy magazine article with the bigfoot photographs in the February 1968
edition. The photographs were from the Patterson-Gimlin Film taken the previous
fall in Bluff Creek , California California – and ultimately, throughout the
Pacific Northwest, Colorado , Texas
and Ohio . Joyce recalled asking her husband, who was an
avid deer hunter, to take the family camping in the Bluff Creek area that very
summer of 1968. He reluctantly agreed
and there they were with other bigfoot enthusiasts driving the dirt roads in
that drainage off California Highway 96 and the Klamath
River .
She described the harrowing nature of the roads in those
mountains – the sheer drops from the narrow dirt roads. She commented on the
distinct lack of guardrails and the rugged terrain that was being actively
logged at that time. She tells of being along Bluff Creek and how the film had
inspired others to come out in search of bigfoots that summer. The family did not have a sighting on that
trip but did have an incident that left a lasting impression on Joyce. She
recalls being at the creek with her husband and the kids were playing nearby.
Suddenly, an overwhelming feeling of peril, dread and danger overcame her. She quickly got her kids back to the vehicle
and urged her husband to “get the heck out of here.” Later we discussed the
possibility of an infrasound “attack” and she thought it possible. And in her typical balanced analysis, she also
said it may have been an unseen predator nearby. Whatever the case, her
maternal instincts kicked in and it stood out as a most unusual incident on
their first trip to the wilds of bigfoot country in Northern
California . Later trips would take them to the Yolla Bolly Wilderness in
the Mendocino National
Forest and up to the Lake Shasta
 |
| Patterson-Gimlin film subject |
She was an advocate of the Patterson-Gimlin Film and we talked
at length about that subject we both agreed upon intensely. Joyce told me of
the effect the film had upon bigfoot research and those interested in
sasquatch. People could finally put a face to the mysterious bigfoot creatures who had been leaving tracks and were responsible for anecdotal sighting
reports over the last 40 years. This landmark film was the apex event in the modern era of bigfoot
evidence. We realize these creatures have co-existed with us for thousands of
years as evidenced by Native North American totems, masks, stories and sighting
reports. But in 1968, the general public finally got a glimpse of that female bigfoot
in the Patterson-Gimlin Film. It ignited a renewed interest in the subject and
started Joyce on her sasquatch odyssey.
We both attended the Willow Creek International Bigfoot
Symposium in September 2003 – but did not make our acquaintance. It was a
landmark event that brought together the key figures in bigfoot research and
offered current analyses and presentations as well. Over the course of 3 days, bigfoot
enthusiasts were able to discuss, listen and share with the likes of John
Green, Bob Gimlin, Al Hodgson and others from that “first generation” of
bigfoot researchers. The 2nd and 3rd generations were
also present – too many to name – and this event was a watershed moment in
bigfoot research. This was my start and from here the subject continued to be
considered in an intelligent fashion. Academics and wildlife biologists were
now involved in the research. Documentation and the need for possible evidence
to be collected properly were stressed. It was something that Joyce and I had
in common. Our paths would cross 3 years later at a small bigfoot museum in the
Santa Cruz Mountains
 |
| October 2006 - our paths cross at bigfoot meeting |
Joyce came and shared her knowledge and experience in the
subject. She had been actively pursuing bigfoot sightings and interviewing eyewitnesses
in the 1970s. She became friends with Barbara Wasson, a psychologist and
researcher from Oregon
and in doing so networked with Rene Dahinden and John Green. Joyce and Barbara conducted
extensive research throughout the Pacific Northwest. Joyce is mentioned in John
Green’s epic book, “Sasquatch: The Apes Among Us.” She wasn’t searching for the spotlight – just
more evidence of their existence.
 |
| Joyce's D'sonoqua mask - she had a passion for Native bigfoot lore |
She was also in touch with bigfoot groups that emerged in
the 1990s such as Ray Crowe’s Western Bigfoot Society in Portland , Oregon
She traveled to Oregon to attend a gathering the Western
Bigfoot Society organized at Longbow near Sweet Home, Oregon. This group
camping afforded Joyce the chance to network with sasquatch researchers from
British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California.
Joyce was an early benefactor and generous supporter of the
British Columbia Cryptozoology Society (BCCS).
She respected the methodical approach the group took with regards to
possible sasquatch evidence and the way they carefully vetted sighting
reports. I spoke with John Kirk the
other night sharing our memories of Joyce and they held her in the highest
regard. It was not until John Green’s Tribute in April 2011 that she was able
to meet these researchers. John expressed how grateful they were to finally
meet her in person after the many years she supported the BCCS. Joyce subscribed to their quarterly
newsletter and eagerly awaited each edition.
 |
| Joyce in Willow Creek, CA for the P-G Film 40th Annivsary - "It's GREAT to be here!" |
After meeting Joyce in 2006, our friendship grew, as we
would see each other on a monthly basis. Later we would meet now and then for
lunch. In the fall of 2007, a crisis
arose when a scheduled celebratory conference for the P-G Film as cancelled. We
were determined to fill the void with an anniversary event. In 6 weeks’ time,
we organized the Patterson-Gimlin Film 40th Anniversary Celebration
in Willow Creek , California
 |
| Group photo from the anniversary celebration |
Joyce generously sponsored other events and continued to
attend conferences and gatherings. She also spent time in the mountains with
her beloved hound dog, Chester . She had
several areas where she concentrated her field research including the Mt. San Jacinto
wilderness in southern California and the
Castle Crags area near Lake Shasta ,
California
 |
| Joyce at the Ohio Bigfoot Conference, May 2010 - in her front row reserved seat (Joyce in yellow shirt) |
The Ohio Bigfoot Conference became an annual destination for
Joyce each spring. She would drive nearly 5,000 miles roundtrip to attend the
event. She made many friends and acquaintances on the east coast as a result.
In 2010, she invited Bob Gimlin and me to travel to the Ohio Bigfoot Conference
as her guests. It was an historic moment for many back east to have the
opportunity to meet Bob and hear him recount the events surrounding the P-G
Film. Don Keating, the organizer of this long-running conference, was eternally
grateful. This type of quiet support and generosity – for the good of others –
exemplified who Joyce was.
 |
| Bob Gimlin speaking at the Ohio Bigfoot Conference - thanks to Joyce Kearney |
She also sponsored the Yakima Bigfoot Round-Up in May 2009
and the Sasquatch Summit: a Tribute to John Green in April 2011. Joyce attended
both events as well and having her there was such a great addition. She did not
need to be in the spotlight or at the podium to have an impact. She came, she
participated and shared her insights and, in that manner, contributed to the
greater cause.
 |
| With Joyce at the Yakima Bigfoot Round-Up May 2009 |
 |
| Bob Gimlin surrounded by the attendees at Yakima Bigfoot Round-Up (photo by Rick Andrews) |
 |
| Joyce with good friend Diane Stocking at Yakima Bigfoot Round-Up |
 |
| Joyce and John Green share some sasquatch wisdom - at the Sasquatch Summit in Harrison Hot Springs, B.C. |
In the last year and a half, Joyce was instrumental in starting a monthly meeting in the S.F. Bay Area. Along with our friend Jerry Hein, we organized and sponsored these meetings at a pizza parlor in San Mateo, California. A small but enthusiastic group has enjoyed discussing bigfoot and we'll continue to do in her memory.
 |
| The Bay Area Bigfoot group shows off the results of a footprint casting workshop. April 2012 |
 |
| A group photo from our March 2013 meeting. |
Her involvement in and passion for the bigfoot/sasquatch
subject is what we will remember about Joyce. Obviously, her generous, kind and
caring personality had a much wider impression on her family, friends and
neighbors. She lived in San Francisco ,
California
Joyce leaves a void that will not be filled. She will be
sorely missed and we will be consoled only by our memories and recollections of
our interactions with this unique individual…our friend and fellow bigfoot
enthusiast.
 |
| Bluff Creek vista - bigfoot country. Here her spirit will reside. |
