Wilma June Dunn Barnett

June Dunn-Barnett was born to Fred A. Dunn and Lavada Ivey Dunn on June 14, 1937. June graduated from Chapel Hill High School. While in school she worked at S.H. Kress Five and Dime store on the square in Tyler. June went on to become the manager after graduating. She married James Levi Rush Sr. on June 1, 1956, with whom she had three precious children, Debra Lynn Howard, James Levi Rush Jr. and Lisa Kay Morgan.

June started her career with Gulf States United Telephone Co. in 1958, which has had several names over the years and now is known as Sprint. She had a great career with them, and went on to become head of revenue and accounting for most of her 30 years with them. June retired in 1988, and then became the bookkeeper for American Legion Post No. 12 in Tyler for about 15 years.

June was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 12 and she was also a member of the VFW No. 7211 in Tyler and a member of Pine Brook Baptist Church in Tyler.

June was preceded in death by her parents, Fred A. Dunn and Lavada Ivey Dunn. June is survived by her three children, Debra Lynn Howard, James Levi Rush Jr. and Lisa Kay Morgan, all of Tyler; brother; Clifford Ray Dunn and his wife Dale Dunn; and her precious niece, Ava June Dunn, also of Tyler; and several aunts, uncles and cousins, most of whom all reside within Texas.

June had many blessings with seven grandchildren, Courtney Klepfer and her generous, caring husband Benjamin Klepfer, Nichole Rush, Codey Rush, Kayla Rush, Aerianna Jackson, Cory Schmoker and Zachary Reece; and three great-grandchildren, Cade and twins, Hayden and Dawson.

Anyone who knew June, as she preferred to be called, will remember she loved to dance and is now waltzing through heaven and having the time of her life. June loved life and always had a smile for everyone. She never met a stranger; they were friends she just had not met yet. She enjoyed her recent years spending time with her children and grandchildren as often as she could.

Once June met you and became friends, she never forgot you, your birthday, anniversary or where you were if she needed to find you. She was a very compassionate, loving, giving, non-judgmental mother, sister and friend, who was always there in good times or bad. She will be missed by many.

Services for June will be at 10 a.m. Friday, May 14, 2010, at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Martin officiating. Interment will follow in Tyler Memorial Park.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the American Legion No. 12, VFW Children or Veterans programs.

Memorial Funeral Home - Cemetery & Mausoleum, Tyler, TX.