June M. Gerry-Crawford, 86, of La Grande, died June 11, 2008, at her home after a long illness.
There will be a Celebration of Life service at 11 a.m. Monday at Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation, and Life Celebration Center in La Grande. Doug Edmonds, minister of the La Grande Church of Christ, will officiate. Interment will be at Grandview Cemetery in La Grande.
June was born in 1921 at Eugene to Harry and Nellie Dickenson Howden of Haines. She graduated from Haines High School as valedictorian in 1939 and went on to graduate from Baker College of Business.
She married James R. “Jim” Gerry in 1941. They both enjoyed long careers with Union Pacific Railroad. Jim was a train dispatcher and June worked in the Labor Relations Department.
Jim died in 1978. June retired after 30 years, moving from Portland back to La Grande.
Upon her return to La Grande, June started her second career (and hobby) in real estate, purchasing many houses and duplexes as rental properties. She met and enjoyed many friends in this phase of her life.
June married Clarence H. Crawford in August 2000. They moved to Elgin where they enjoyed their home on the Grande Ronde River. Both June and Clarence enjoyed the great outdoors and camped for several summers in the high mountains of Eastern Oregon.
They both attended the Christian Church in Elgin, and later, June briefly attended the Church of Christ in La Grande where she appreciated the many people who showed her prayers and kindnesses throughout her illness.
June will always be remembered as a very kind and wonderful person who dearly loved her family. She lived life fully and served as an inspiration to her family and friends, family members said.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence, who died in October 2006; and a brother, Ray Howden of Columbus, Ohio.
Survivors include son, Rick Gerry, and his wife, Sharon, of Cove; daughter, Susan Gerry of La Grande; granddaughter, Kim Kimball, and her husband, Brian Kimball, and their children, Zack and Shalee, of Union, granddaughter, Riki Anderson, and her husband, Cody Anderson, and their children, Ali Abrego and Jacey, of North Powder, grandson, Ryan Gerry, and his wife, Sami, and their children, Mason, Paige and Ava June, of Prairie City; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Gary Howden, and his wife, Syd, of Curlew, Wash.; a special niece, Sarah Hindman Harrison of Santa Clara, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society through Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation and Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 13, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
