June Long Trivette

1932 - 2024

June Long Trivette

June 12, 1932 - October 28, 2024

June Frances Long Trivette, devoted wife and mother, beloved aunt and grandmother, lifelong educator and advocate for public education, and tireless community servant and church member passed away peacefully on October 28, 2024, in Greensboro, N.C. at the age of 92. June was born on a farm to John Alexander Long and Esther Haymore Long on June 12, 1932, in Surry County near Dobson, N.C. She was the second-to-youngest of nine children. She often said she was raised by her parents and her older siblings, whom she adored -- Winfred, Mac, Ral, Joe, Madeline, Ruth, Delia, and Nell. She is predeceased by her parents and brothers and sisters.

June's life teemed with family, a passion for teaching, travels, and love. In the classroom she took a no-nonsense approach with students, but always understood the most important thing one might need was a hug. With a piercing intellect and sharp wit, a golden soprano voice, a quick laugh and an easy smile, June became an iconic source of sound advice and warm love in her families of the Longs and Trivettes.

June was married to Charles Amos Trivette for 66 years until he passed away only six months ago. Over those year, they almost never spent a night apart. She is survived by her son Jeff and wife Penny; two grandchildren, Isabella, and Jacob; numerous nieces and nephews, and scores of great-nieces and -nephews, and great, great-nieces and -nephews. Always the matriarch to her son and grandchildren, June was also the adored second mother, teacher and counselor to many, many of these nephews and nieces.

June attended Dobson High School and graduated from UNC-Greensboro (then called Women's College) before beginning her long and storied career as an educator. She started teaching at Mooresville (NC) City School, and while living at a boarding house there run by her future mother-in-law, she met Charles. They moved to Hickory, where she taught in the elementary schools for 36 years. She taught many children of previous students.

While teaching and raising Jeff, June also kept a busy community and church life. She and Charles attended the First United Methodist Church in Hickory for over 60 years. Charles was the church treasure, usher, and offertory steward. June's operatic, almost three-octave soprano voice stood out in the choir on Sundays; and when she wasn't singing on Sundays, she was singing in the kitchen. She was a member of the Hickory Art Museum Guild and the Hickory Women's Club for many years.

June's retirement life maybe was busier than her working life. Most important to her were the beach trips with the Trivette side of her family almost every summer from Myrtle Beach in the 60's to Oak Island in the 2010s; the almost-every Sunday lunches with her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary Ellen and Dewitt and their family after church; and the Christmas morning brunches. The Longs were steadfast in their determination to stay connected over the years, through holiday meals, summer Many retirees travel, and June and Charles were no exception. Together (they were always together) they made numerous tours of Europe. As a member of the Hickory-based Jim Williams' Carolina Chorale group, June, with Charlie tagging along, made multiple trips to Europe where the chorale performed in churches and cathedrals all over the continent.

For decades June and Charles were members of a bridge club or a supper club in Hickory. As her pace finally slowed, June turned to her quieter passions of reading, music, growing flowers and watching baseball with Charles. June and Charles spent their last years in Greensboro, NC to be nearer to Jeff and Penny.

At a private graveside service, June will be laid to rest at Catawba Memorial Park beside her husband, and her sister- and brother-in-law. A public memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church, 311 Third Avenue NE, Hickory N.C. at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2024. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry.

picnics, and legendary family reunions in and around Dobson -- traditions that continue today among the plethora of nephews and nieces and their families.