Dortha June Fehr

Dortha June Fehr was born on June 24, 1936 in Fanshawe, OK (United States) and went to be with the Lord on October 27, 2024 in Tucson, AZ (United States). She was 88 years old. She was under hospice care for three days before slipping away peacefully in her sleep due to a lengthy illness and kidney failure. She will be missed greatly by her 4 children: Steve Pauly (Karen) of Tucson, AZ, Sherry Doubleday (Rob) of Santa Cruz, CA, Rhonda Phillips (Barrett) of Boise, ID, and Lisa Stowe (Darrell) of Tucson, AZ, stepchildren Michael Fehr, Dan Fehr and Tom Fehr, as well as six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Patti Kahler of North Pole, AK.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert (Bob) Fehr (1929-1993), brother Daryl Gordan Rash (1938-2015), mother Ica Loraine Smith (1918-1994), and father Elzie Elmer Rash (1912–1992).

June went to Reno High School in Reno, NV. While still in school she married Eugene Pauly and had four children. They moved to Santa Cruz County, CA in 1960 and divorced in 1966. June moved to San Jose, CA and went to school to earn her LVN license. While attending school and raising 4 small children, June started singing country songs in night clubs to earn money for bills and school fees. After she obtained her LVN license, she worked at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose. A friend introduced June to Robert (Bob) Fehr, and they married in 1973. Bob worked for IBM as a Project Manager in San Jose and in 1978 he was assigned to start up the first IBM plant in Tucson, AZ. They left California and bought a home in the beautiful Tucson foothills. June loved Tucson where she had many hobbies including ceramics, selling Avon, and bowling in a local league.

June opened an elder care home business in 1986 called Fehrhaven. She had a license to accommodate 10 patients, but only took in 7 patients for more specialized, comfortable and spacious care. Fehrhaven was a very successful business with a waiting list of patients. It was said that she had the best elder care facility in southern Arizona. June maintained Fehrhaven until 1998. After that, she worked for a top private-duty nursing agency until she was 71 years old. She then devoted the remainder of her life to the service of her family and grandchildren whom she loved deeply.

June was an avid reader and loved US and world history. She was brilliant, with amazing recall up to the last days of her life. She remembered details of US battles in history, dates, movie stars, and everything her children ever did. Her mind was truly remarkable. June will be greatly missed and always remembered.