June Marie Morris Gaare

b. 1932, d. 2-16-2024

June lived an amazing life all the way up to 91 years young! She passed peacefully and painlessly near her home in Scottsdale, AZ, with her family by her side. June was born on a farm in Clinton, Iowa. She graduated from Clinton High School, Clinton, Iowa, in 1950, and graduated from ASU, Tempe, AZ, in 1960 with High Distinction and a degree in Office Administration. She was a member of Kappa Delta Social Sorority, and achieved Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) in 1960. Early in her career, June worked as executive secretary at IBM and then Motorola. June taught business classes at Tempe High School from 1968-1971. Then she worked as a bookkeeper for 10 years in her husband’s business while simultaneously raising her children. For the last 12 years of her career, June worked as a Human Resources Assistant at Harris Trust Bank in Scottsdale, AZ, before retiring in 2001.

June’s favorite thing was her family, being a wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She also enjoyed travelling all over North America. Her favorite place was the Grand Canyon, which she hiked down to the bottom 8 times! She even wrote a book about these journeys. June loved writing, taking pictures, and playing card games. She was also an incredible cook! June was an accomplished line dancer and ballroom dancer, formally-trained at Fred Astaire Studios. She loved going to the dances at Scottsdale Senior Center. Needless to say, June’s dance card was always full.

June is preceded in death by her parents, Helen and John Morris, her sisters Janice Petersen and Jaqueline Masse, and her husband Don Gaare (m. 1959, d.1992). Her survivors include two children, daughter Linda Gaare of North Hollywood, CA, son Mark Gaare and daughter-in-law Rowena Gaare of Milpitas, CA, and two grandchildren, Jacob Gaare of Mesa, AZ, and Brandon Gaare of Milpitas, CA.

Donations in June’s honor can be made to Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ.

One of Mom/Grama June’s favorite sayings: “Have I told you lately that I Love You?”