June Marie Bivins Musson

A celebration of life for June Marie Bivins Musson, 76, widow of longtime New Smyrna Beach Mayor George Musson, who died Sunday at Shands Hospital, Gainesville, will be 3:30 p.m. Friday at Coronado Community United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gene Rutland officiating. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Mrs. Musson came to this area in 1945 from San Antonio, Texas. A 1947 graduate of Live Oak Street High School, June Bivins then graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina School of Nursing to become a registered nurse. In 1956 she married George E. Musson. Throughout her married life, she assisted in the family business, Musson's Florist, was the first lady of New Smyrna Beach for the 17 years her husband was mayor, and raised five children, all whom she managed to successfully get through college. June Musson was a volunteer. When her children were students, she helped at Coronado Elementary School, New Smyrna Beach Middle School, and New Smyrna Beach High School. At the middle and high schools, she was also a band parent. For eleven years, she served on the Volusia County Schools Advisory Committee, which she chaired for two years. Images, a Festival of the Arts is a major New Smyrna Beach event. From its inception in 1977 and for a number of years thereafter, Mrs. Musson chaired this prestigious event. She also served on the Halifax Medical Center Advisory Board and volunteered at Coronado United Methodist Church, where she was a member. One of her last activities was the TAG Art Group, which donated crafting services to benefit many community causes. In recognition of her activities, Mrs. Musson received the Turnbull Grange Commun-ity Citizen Award in 1988. Survivors include two sons, Dean, Evansville, Ind., and Neal, Gainesville; three daughters, Nan Musson, Gainesville, Jill Musson Williams, Port Orange, and Susan Musson Zarecki, Acworth, Ga.; two sisters, Barbara Benet and Jerry Kennedy, both of New Smyrna Beach; and three grandchildren, Jonathan Williams, Tallahassee, Janelle Williams, Port Orange, and Kylie Zarecki, Acworth. She was predeceased by her husband, George E. Musson, and sisters, Suzy O'Rourke Charles and Holly Bivins. Flowers are welcome. In memory of her life of service the family requests donations or service be made to a charity of your choice.