June Williams Smith
June Williams Smith
June Williams Smith
9/27/1925
– 7/3/2014
Our
beloved Mother, Halle’ Alice June Williams Smith, passed away Thursday, July 3,
2014, at her home in The Highlands of pneumonia. Mom was born September 27,
1925, in Calgary, Canada, to her Canadian mother, Muriel (Honey) Ferguson
Williams, and Welsh-born father, Geoffrey P. Williams. They drove down to Boise
when Junie was 8 years old (eighty years ago) and moved to their home on Owyhee
Street, across the street from Joe & Kathryn Albertson. When she & the
other kids were waiting for the bus to the Junior High (now North) and Boise
High, Joe would stop to pick them up on his way to his first grocery store at
16
th
& State.
A proud
1943 graduate of Boise High, she took the train (due to gas rationing) up to the
University of Idaho (Go Vandals!) where she pledged Gamma Phi Beta, which she
loved. Mom was named Distinguished Alumna at their 100 Years on campus
Celebration. She was likewise named a Distinguished Citizen by The Idaho
Statesman.
Her
early activities prepared her well for the many contributions she has made to
City, State and Northwest associations in leadership roles.
She was Honored Queen of Jobs Daughters
Bethel #13, served on the BHS Student Council, as Senior Class Secretary, and
associate editor of the Courier. At U of I, she served as a freshman and junior
class officer and associate editor of Gem of the Mountains yearbook. She was
President of St. Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary, Boise Junior League, Boise’s Gamma
Phi Beta alumni chapter, the Sigma Chi Wives, and Pan-Hellenic Association. As
an Officer for the Association of Junior Leagues of America, she served as NW Traveling
Secretary, and as NW Province Alumnae Director for Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She
was chairwoman for the Idaho Hospital Association’s Auxiliary. Board
memberships included the Red Cross Auxiliary, YMCA, Boise Art Museum, and
FUNDSY (Funds to Build the Y), where she was the Founding Mother and the only
woman on a board with many distinguished gentlemen.
She was a true leader, inspiring and
encouraging philanthropy and dedication to causes she deemed worthy. As we
were growing up, Mom was active in PTA, Cub
Scouts and Brownies. Work experiences included the State of Idaho Land
Department, Dept. of Health and Welfare, and Elam and Burke law firm prior to
marriage, and writing a Society Section personal column for the Idaho Daily
Statesman afterwards. She was proud to be a naturalized American.
As
soon as our dad, Richard B. Smith (her high school sweetheart), came back from
World War II Germany, Junie headed to Boise where they were married at St.
Michael’s Cathedral on February 8, 1947 (Helen Williams Gebhardt and Bob
Hendren were in their wedding party), and embarked on a partnership that lasted
over sixty years. Richard passed in 2009. She is survived by their three
children, Geoffrey B. Smith, Shelley Smith Eichmann (David), and Mark R. Smith.
Grandchildren are R.B. Smith (Bonnie), K.C. Robinson (Dustin), and Jason Smith;
Beau Brazier (Jenni), Barb Brazier Studebaker (Rob), Richard Eichmann; and
Halle’ A. Smith. Great-grandchildren include Emma Smith, Alexander & Will
Studebaker, and Zoe’ Robinson. She is also survived by sister-in-law Jean
Miller Smith (Franklin passed in 2009), and her children Cindy Mosier (Terry),
Brent Smith (Stephanie) & Cheryl Runyan (Kip). Almost all of us live in her
Beloved Boise.
Mom
was, foremost, a “people” person, and enjoyed family and friends to the utmost.
She had the marvelous quality of being everybody’s “best friend”. Being a
gourmet cook with beautiful surroundings provided her with the opportunity to
entertain well and extensively. Bridge clubs with friends of long-standing were
her passion. She won High Prize at Bridge 8 days prior to her passing (playing
with her Boise High Bridge Club for the last 71 years). World travel brought
friendships from around the country, and family cruises with four generations
became a part of the Smiths’ later years. She was Mother of Crane Creek Country
Club, and The Highlands, which her husband Richard B. and partner of 54 years
Fred Bagley (Betty) developed. And they said it would never be anything but
Slaughterhouse Gulch.
The
family would like to thank all of Mom’s loving caregivers, especially Sally
Matchen, who cared for her the last 5 1/2 years. A family service was held at
the Idaho Veterans Cemetery. Junie’s Celebration of Her Wonderful Life will be
Wednesday, July 23, 2014, at Crane Creek Country Club between 2 and 4:30 pm.
Please help us plan, if possible, by letting us know that you are coming: email
ShelleyBoise@USA.net
, or call 208-342-7914. In lieu of flowers, memorials
may be made to YMCA Camp, Cooper Wilcomb Fund; the June W. Smith Gamma Phi Beta
(U of I) Scholarship Fund; or to a charity of your choice. Goodbye to a Great Lady
We Loved.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of June Williams Smith, please visit our flower store.
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