June F. Faulker White

1930 - 2015

June Finn Faulkner White, 84, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Jan. 29, 2015. June was born in Plainfield, N.J., on May 4, 1930, to William and Ada Dayton Finn. June graduated from Columbia Presbyterian University in New York City, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree as a Registered Nurse. While attending a Montclair Ski Club meeting, she met her first husband, Sewell "Stumpy" Faulkner, of Keene, N.H., and the two married in New Jersey in 1955. The newlyweds drove the Alcan highway to Alaska for their honeymoon, with a "pregnant wife and a dog in heat," as Stumpy often remarked. After arriving in Alaska in 1955, June was very active with the Anchorage community and with raising her five children, all of whom survive her and currently reside in Alaska: Patty (Dave Hamre); Bradford; Sami (Bruce Graham); Jonathan (Sara Cox); Winthrop (Audrey Hanson); and numerous grandchildren, Kate and Peter Hamre, Dylan Faulkner, Todd (Jessica Bailey), Luke and Mary Graham, Katie (Rick McKellar), Andrew, William, Kristen and Nicholas Faulkner and Claire and Cole Faulkner. In 1966, June married Barrie M. White Jr., to whom she was married until his death in 1995. June's family and many friends honor her as a woman of immense talent and creative energy, a devoted wife and mother, a professional nurse and an active community volunteer. As a nurse she assisted Dr. John Tower in his home office in the '50s and volunteered as a nurse with the local Red Cross after the 1964 earthquake. She was tremendously active with the Anchorage World Affairs Council, Anchorage Historic Preservation and Inlet View PTA. She and Sewell together hosted one of the first Anchorage Nordic Ski Club races from their Bootlegger's Cove residence in 1964, which June later fondly named "Blueberry Hill." With the help of her children and step-children, she organized fun carnivals on the lawn, with all neighborhood children and pets welcome. June supported Barrie's business, the Anchorage Sports Arena, and the early days of Anchorage hockey. She loved Alaska's great outdoors and often recalled her fondest memories of camping in Hatcher Pass and fishing in Homer and Bulchitna Lake. She and Barrie built a second home in Nelson, N.H., in 1971, where they made maple syrup in the spring and enjoyed the New England fall colors. She was proud of her Native American Heritage. June hand-carved a cedar totem pole that represented her blended family, which graces Blueberry Hill today. She authored several short stories celebrating her heritage and family roots in Alaska, and co-authored, with Corinne Blair, the play "From Pot to Pans." June loved all things musical, played the ukulele and performed with Corinne and friends in "The Heart Throbs" to raise funds for improved cardiology care at Providence Hospital in the early '60s. June's musical legacy is carried on by her children and grandchildren through the Anchorage bluegrass and folk music communities. Family friends are invited to her Celebration of Life at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2015, at her old family home in Bootlegger's Cove. The gathering will be at the residence of daughter Sami and son-in-law Bruce Graham, where she was cared for the past ten years. The family extends a special thank you to Reverend Father Norman Elliot for wise and loving counsel over the years. A huge hug goes out to the loving kindness of Malia Alefosio and staff, June's home care assistant for 12 years, and Linda's Place Assisted Living during her last month of life.