JUNE H. FADER

1926 - 2008

Our beloved mom, grandma and great-grandma, June Harriet Bell Fader, died Saturday, October 4, 2008, of congestive heart failure.

June was born in Yakima on June 23, 1926, the daughter of Clara and James Bell. She was raised in Granger and Tacoma, attending school at Stadium High School and Annie Wright Seminary.

After graduation, June went to work for Nalley's Inc. in Tacoma, where she met and married Donald J. Harder. They moved to Anacortes, Washington where Don was a superintendent at Pacific Tow Boat Company. June and her family enjoyed boating and the beaches. June Cleaver had nothing on Mom; she made all of our clothes, baked her own bread, canned cherries by the gallon, reupholstered furniture, painted and wallpapered every room in the house, grew peas and raspberries in the yard and had a home-cooked meal on the table every night. She was a Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, Room Mother and PTA Secretary. June wrote PTA notices for the local paper, the Anacortes American, where they soon recognized her journalistic talent and she became a reporter for the paper. She later became the first woman Editor of the Anacortes American, and went on to become a reporter for the Skagit Valley Herald, covering news from all areas of the county. She even flew with the Blue Angels for one story! In 1970, she married Bob Fader, and they bought the Concrete Herald which they owned and operated for 16 years, winning many state journalism awards. Bob died in 1985 and June retired in 1989, spending many years touring the country in her motorhome, wintering in California and Arizona, and making friends wherever she went. She later spent her summers at the Thousand Trails Campground in La Conner where Margaret and her many friends took excellent care of her.

When June's health began failing in 2005, she moved her motorhome to the Big Lake property of her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Cathi and Dennis Chard. Cathi and Dennis have taken wonderful care of her for the past nearly three years, assisted by June's grandson Scott and his wife Leslie.

June is survived by 2 daughters, Sandie (Don) Doherty of Burlington, Karen (Gene) Ray of Ironside, Oregon, a stepdaughter Kristie (Russ) Edwards of Kennewick, a stepson Jack (Connie) Fader of Puyallup, a brother, Jim Bell of Yakima, stepson-in-law Steve Groves of Edmonds, close friend Eugen Schibli of Carson City, Nevada, 22 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Fader, her son Carl Harder, her parents Clara Morris and Jim Bell, her sister Henrietta House, and her stepdaughter Kandy Groves.

Private family services will be held.

June's family would like to thank everyone at Skagit Hospice for their loving care of our mom for the past 2 years. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations in June's memory to Skagit Hospice Foundation, PO Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.

Rest in Peace, Mom......we love you.