June Eva Rhoades

1927 - 2018

June Eva Rhoades, 91, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2018. She was born in Cananea, Sonora, Mexico on June 30, 1927. She is survived by her five children, Richard Stephen (Rosa), Charles Everett (Lucy), Carol Elizabeth (Ken Schaecher), Mary Ann Versluis (George) and David Frazer (Toni), 12 grandchildren (Jaclyn, Kelly, Alex, Marissa, Andrew, Lisa, Erin, Anthony, Taylor, Cassidy, Karla, Christian) and ten great grandchildren.
She was born to Alene Ruth (Lambert) and Cyril Ulysses Cooledge. Her mother, father, husband Richard E. Rhoades, older brother John Cooledge, older sister Margaret Peterson and twin sister Jane Cooledge preceded her in death.
June was raised in both Mexico and Arizona. She attended Cananea English School in Cananea, Mexico through grade nine before attending high school in Bisbee, Arizona. After graduating from Bisbee High School, she enrolled at the University of Arizona and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education in 1949. June accepted a job offer in Ajo, AZ at Ajo High School where she worked as a Spanish teacher from 1949 to 1954 before devoting her time raising her five children. A piece of Mexico lived in June throughout her life. Chile, tacos, tamales, and enchiladas were a staple of the Rhoades household (thankfully). She loved the Mexican culture and remained fluent in Spanish, which came in handy on family vacations to Mexico and delighted the unsuspecting.
June was married to the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Everett Rhoades, who had come to Ajo in 1948 to work as a mining engineer for Phelps Dodge Corporation's New Cornelia Branch. The marriage took place in Bisbee, AZ on June 6, 1954. All five children were born while the family lived in Ajo.
June and her family lived in Ajo until 1972 when her husband was transferred to Douglas, AZ to Morenci, AZ in 1977 and then back to Ajo in 1979.
In 1981 June moved to Silver City, NM where she and her husband made their home until Dick's death in 2014. She then resided in Reno, NV for one year prior to moving to Salt Lake City, UT where she lived until her death.
June was active as a Volunteer in the Gila Regional Medical Center and was a member of the Silver City Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Women's Auxiliary of the Institute of Mining Engineers, P.E.O. and Wackys. June enjoyed gardening and entertaining and hosted many bridge and other parties. She led many quilt making endeavors to raise money at the church bazaar. She was naturally curious, learning the calls of many birds and taking the time to stop to learn the names of wild flowers she didn't recognize.
June will be remembered fondly as a loving mother, a faithful friend, and a generous spirit. We will miss her sharp wit, her infectious laugh, her sweet nature, and her baking skills, especially her cherry pies, chocolate sheet cake, and carrot cake. Friends and family will miss her until we meet again.
Memorial services will be held at the Silver City Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd on September 1, 2018 at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or other charity of your choice.