June Irene Bonds

June Irene Bonds, born August 7, 1926 in Granby, Missouri, to Nell and Elmer Delap. Her parents were both descendants of Scots-Irish settlers of the American South and the Cherokee people whom they found there. Second of 4 children and only daughter, her brothers are Darryl, Robert \u0026 Jerry. As a small child, June and her mother both suffered from life threatening asthma. Her father sold his ice company in Newton County, Mo, and combined an ice truck and travel trailer to build one of the first motorhomes. The family that traveled to Arizona in it included June\u0027s teenaged aunt and uncle. Grew up in a house her father mostly built in what is now South Phoenix. Attended Phoenix Union High School while she grew into a startling beauty with red hair and cornflower blue eyes. Met her husband, Ken, in her early teens when he became the family\u0027s paper boy. After a while, Ken would deliver his route till he got to June\u0027s house, and June\u0027s younger brother, Bobby, would complete the deliveries so Ken could spend time with June. The couple eloped on February 27, 1943, in the midst of World War II. June was 16 and Ken, 19. Short months later, Ken joined the Navy, where he was eventually stationed as fire control officer on a tanker. While Ken fought in the Pacific, June kept busy working at Korrick\u0027s Department Store. She gave birth to their first child, Lawrence, on November 7, 1944. After the War, June and Ken settled into family life back home in Phoenix. Daughter, Sandra, was born in 1953, to be followed by Danny and Mark in 1955 and \u002757. Ken went to work for Greyhound bus lines in the early fifties. The work provided a very good income but Ken\u0027s frequent absences were hard for both of them. But they were willing to make that sacrifice for their growing family. June had always had a strong belief in God though her parents were not church goers. In the late \u002740s and early \u002750s she began a spiritual quest. She attended many protestant churches, but was still unsatisfied. She found her spiritual home in the faith of her Gaelic ancestors when she came to the Catholic Church. June was baptized in 1955, along with daughter, Sandra. Son Larry followed a year later. Husband Ken followed her into the faith a few years later. Ken and June threw themselves into Church activities at St. Agnes Parish. Ken was active in the Men\u0027s club and June in Our Lady\u0027s Sodality, serving multiple terms as Prefect. They both consistently volunteered at the church and school. None of the children could get away with anything, because Mom or Dad were always there. In the 60s, Ken and June bought a small lot in the Indian Gardens section of Oak Creek Canyon, and Ken started working out of Flagstaff during the summers. When Ken retired they replaced the Oak Creek trailer with a house they built themselves, and threw themselves into Church and civic activities. They moved to Cottonwood when June\u0027s dementia began so they could be closer to medical facilities. Ken kept her at home for as long as he could care for her. When she was moved nursing facilities, he spent every day at her bedside, feeding her every meal when she became unable to feed herself. They celebrated their 65th Anniversary this past February. June was highly intelligent and a voracious reader. She was naturally good at almost everything she turned her hand to, except for singing (Mom was tone deaf!). She was strong of heart and strong of will. Vivacious and witty, she was often described as a force of nature. No one who met her could ever forget her--- And those who did know her came to love her. She is survived by 4 children: Lawrence, Sandra, Daniel 8 Grandchildren; 4 Great-Grandchildren. The Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 11:00am with the Rosary to begin at 10:30am at the St. Joan of Arc Church in Phoenix. Interment will follow at the St. Francis Cemetery, also located in Phoenix. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com To plant Memorial Trees in memory of June Irene Bonds, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

June Irene Bonds

August 7, 1926 - October 29, 2008