June Dale Allison

June Dale Allison

June Dale Allison, the first child of Carl and Cleo Allison, was born on September 10, 1929, in Seattle, WA. She passed away at Sunbridge Nursing Home, Nampa, ID, on February 7, 2008, at the age of 78. We lovingly remember June as Mom, Sister, Aunt, Grandmother, and Friend.
June grew up in Oroville, WA, and graduated from high school in 1948. She was an accomplished piano player and in great demand as an accompanist for various groups during her high school years. Shortly after high school, she married Bill Petry and they had three sons, Ken (Cathy) Petry, Vancouver, B.C.; Leonard Petry (deceased); and Murrel Petry, Richland, WA. A later marriage to Dawson Long (deceased) added three more children to June's family, Johnna (Sam) Ebanks, Roatan Island, Honduras; Loy (Jana) Long, Granite Falls, WA; and Patti (Brad) Neuroth, Nampa, ID.
June is also survived by sister, Leona (Al) Reeves, Grand Coulee, WA; grandkids, Michael (Brenda), Jennifer, Jed, and Tina Petry; Lindsi, Brooke, Beau, and Cali Neuroth; as well as nephew, Sean Reeves; niece, Leann (Steve) Ryser; grandnieces, Becky Ryser and Rachel (Monte) Cleaver; and grandnephew, Matt Ryser.
June wore many hats during her life of raising six kids. Besides being a stay-at-home mom, her jobs included waitressing, advertising, and photography. Her favorite job was advertising and she had a very creative mind and knew how to sell an idea. She once worked at the famous Fingernail Building in Tri-Cities when it was originally built as a business office.
June passed down the best of her attributes in a manner unique to each of her children. Patti has always known she was blessed with perhaps the finest gift June could pass along: her eyes, in a physical and spiritual sense, coupled with a compassionate heart. Johnna, ever the amiable one who takes life in stride, discovered a gift for voice early in her teens and cherishes the fact that her Mother never missed any of her recitals or theatrical performances. Loy acquired June's creative mind in his ability to fabricate beauty, drafted from a tender spirit. Murrel is outgoing and sentimental. Leonard (Pete) was brilliant and fierce. Ken is loyal and generous.
Many times June remarked with pride how two of the kids in Pasco's McLoughlin Junior High School Dirty Dozen (a group of twelve honor students selected by teachers for special service) were her sons, Ken and Leonard. Music was very important to June, and she encouraged all her children to develop their musical talents. Playing piano, she accompanied her son Murrel as he played a Mozart Concerto for French Horn as a senior in high school.
Growing up in the great depression era, she knew how to stretch a budget and we all remember learning how to make cakes from scratch. June was always willing to help anyone who came to the door asking for work or a sandwich, so we're certain she must have entertained angels a time or two. She knew how to bring a smile to anyone's face in the midst of chaos. At a certain age we all learned to stand on our own two feet and little by little her burden was lessened in that regard. June had the ability to communicate through conversation and writing, and had an amazing memory which lasted until her final days. Some of her fondest memories included trips to Arizona to visit her Uncle and Aunt, Chesley and Marge Galbraith.
June introduced all her children to the movie, "The Wizard of Oz," at some point in their lives. Someone famous once said, "To have a rainbow one must first have rain." June experienced her share of torrential downpours during her life and is now singing and living her promised new life "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Rest now and God bless you, June.
A private graveside service will be held in late July. For information you may email Murrel at mspetry07@aol.com.