June Thelma Derks

June Thelma Derks November 21 1930 – September 10, 2019 June Thelma Derks passed away on September 10, 2019 at the age of 88. June was born in Newbury, Vermont to William and Thelma Paye. She had two older sisters and an older brother. While growing up after losing her mother when she was 6 years old, her father and she lived in Vermont, California and Missouri. At one time she lived in a box car. She later lived with her older sister Ida and her husband Charles. While living in Mountain View, Missouri, June worked as a housekeeper, took care of children and did some bookkeeping in a business office. June met her future husband, Maynard, by taking his job away from him at the movie theater. Maynard sold tickets and the owner wanted a lady to be a ticket seller. June applied for the job and was hired, while Maynard took the tickets, so he did not lose his job completely. The night June graduated from high school, on June 11, 1948, her and Maynard were married. Maynard had to be back in California for his job, so they had no time to waste, she was 17 he was 19. June worked for Bank of America as a teller for several years, before starting their family. She was a stay at home mom after her two children Greg and Debbie were born. June was very active in her church at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Compton, CA where she was secretary of the Women’s group. She was also very active in PTA at her children’s school. Later she was also a member of the Women’s Association at Lakewood Christ Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, California. June belonged to a writers group where she tried her hand at writing and did get a few small things published. June enjoyed sewing, crocheting, embroidery, reading, cooking for family and friends, butterflies, kitties and shopping for yardage. After her children were in high school she went back to work at California Cash Register in Los Angeles, California where she was a bookkeeper. During this time, June started to lose her eyesight. She attended Braille Institute for some of their classes and programs to learn how to live with vision loss. While there she signed up for the books on tape from the Braille Library, a free service for disabled and vision impaired people. She enjoyed listening to her books. June and Maynard celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary on June 11, 2019. June is survived by her husband Maynard Derks, Son Greg Derks, daughter-in- law Jeny Derks, Daughter Debbie Derks, Granddaughter Fiorella Hernandez, Grandson-in-law Jose Hernandez, and Great Granddaughter Amanda Hernandez and many nieces and nephews and extended family across the country. June will be laid to rest at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. In lieu of flowers, June’s family requests a donation be made to the: Braille Institute of America, 741 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029 Note on donation: In memory of June Derks – for Library Services A memorial service will be held at Christ Presbyterian Church, 5225 Hayter Avenue, Lakewood, CA 90712 on Friday, October 4, 2019 at 11:00am.