June Alene Mathis

June was born on June 26th 1935 in Salem Oregon to Gail and Helen Ethell. Known affectionately as G-MA by her grandchildren and younger friends, June had a kind heart and a great sense of humor. It’s these two traits that we will miss the most. The Bible says we should give more than we receive and treat others the way we want to be treated. June lived her life this way. She gave to all that needed help.

Though we’ll miss June’s generous soul, it’s her good nature and ability to take a joke that will stick in our memories. She passed this trait on to her children and grandchildren which allows us to find humor even in times of grief.

June lived in and around the Salem area as a child. In 1973 she wrote her childhood memoirs. She wrote that as a child their family home burnt to the ground. Her father Gail tried desperately to hook their hose to the water spigot to put the fire out and couldn’t. In an act of defiance and rage Gail grabbed the hose and threw the hose in the fire and let it burn. June later said that as they sat on the roof of a neighbors house they watched the last flames die and soon after the fire department arrived. Humor in times of grief. Her autobiography is an interesting look at the trials and tribulations of her life. June had four siblings: Dorothy, Evelyn, Jerry and Rose. According to June, all the Ethell kids went to a two room grade school and would eventually graduate from Gervais Union High School. She spent time attending Oregon College of Education seeking a degree in education where she met Stanley Mathis. They fell in love and married December 22nd, 1955. Several months later (you do the math) Stanley Mathis Jr. was born July 15th 1956 followed by Terry 1957, Debra 1958 and Brenda 1964. The Mathis family bounced around a bit leaving a trail from Seattle to Phoenix and from Salem to St. Petersburg Florida. The early years of their marriage were mostly spent in Phoenix and Portland. In Portland, June was a den mother with the cub scouts and a campfire girl leader for several years. Stan and June would eventually settle in Salem in 1975 this time for good. June worked for Beneficial Financial in several states and landed the job of Deputy Clerk at her old alma mater Gervais Union High School. She would retire from Gervais in 1995. Not long after retirement Stan was diagnosed with Lung cancer. June took care of Stan until his death in late 2000. After recovering from her grief she decided to complete unfinished business. June went back to school in 2001 at Chemeketa Community College. She would graduate in 2003 with an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education just shy of her 69th birthday. June worked at the Chemeketa Regional library until her death. She also served for years as a Secretary, Bookkeeper, Treasurer and Board Member for The Sleepy Hollow Homeowners Association. June formed many lifelong friendships with her neighbors in Sleepy Hollow. She touched us all in such a profound way and will forever be in our hearts and memories.

June unexpectedly collapsed from a respiratory embolism on Thursday October 17th 2013. She passed away peacefully at Salem Memorial Hospital on Sunday October 20th surrounded by her family on a beautiful October day.

Graveside Service Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 2:00pm, Belcrest Memorial Park. Life Celeration Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 2:00pm, Sleepy Hollow Club House.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in memory of June to:

Friends of The Salem Public Library Donations

P.O. Box 14810

Salem, OR 97309

503-362-1755

[email protected]

(In addition to books, they welcome records, CDs & cassettes, videos, DVDs & audio books, artwork & jewelry, games, puzzles & toys, knick knacks & dishes, greeting cards & postcards, maps & posters, holiday & seasonal items, etc)

or

The Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation (Diabetes Action)

www.diabetesaction.org

PO Box 34635

Bethesda, MD 20827

Ph: 202-333-4520

Arrangements by Howell Edwards Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors.