June Strauss

June Fouts Strauss, 80, died Monday, December 6, 2010 on Dogwood Hill in Tallahassee after suffering a short illness.
A memorial Mass will be held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 2:30 p.m., Thursday, December 9, 2010. There will be a celebration of June's life at the church's community center directly following the service. Bevis Funeral (850-385-2193) is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Boys Town of North Florida (3555 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32303); Tree House of Tallahassee, Inc. (P.O. Box 14331 Tallahassee, FL 32317); or LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts (125 No. Gadsden Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301).
June Fouts Strauss was born in Jacksonville, FL May 25, 1930. While attending Florida State University, which had recently become co-ed, she met and married FSU football star Buddy Strauss. Before her husband's death in 2009, their six children, 15 grandchildren and three great grandchildren were the highlight of their lives. The two would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary December 2, 2010.
In addition to being a homemaker, June was active in the community and was passionate about children and the arts. She served as a homeroom mother at Blessed Sacrament School (now Trinity Catholic) for 17 consecutive years. She went on to serve on the founding Board of Directors of LeMoyne Art Foundation, which racially integrated the arts and social communities through cultural activities. June helped launch the Florida State University School of Theatre's Patrons Association, serving as its first chairman, and was a member of the Organizing Board of Directors for the Governor's Club in downtown Tallahassee. In 1995, June helped establish the Shakespeare Festival that brought free, professional Shakespearian theatre to downtown Tallahassee.
A member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, she was a dynamic alum, and oversaw a major renovation project for the chapter house at FSU. She went on to serve as president of the National Board of Directors for the Florida State University Alumni Association.
June's passion for child advocacy led to her helping establish the Tree House emergency shelter for abused and neglected children and she played a key role with winning initial funding. The second home was named the "June Strauss Tree House."
In 1985 June was tapped to establish the first off-site campus for Boys Town from the main campus in Omaha, Nebraska. For many years, she served as chairman of the Advisory Board for what became "Father Flanagan's Boys Town of North Florida."
From 2001 to 2007, June served on the National Board of Trustees for Fr. Flanagan's Boys Home headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
June was named Tallahassee Democrat's "Volunteer of the Year" and was co-Honoree of the American Heart Association Heart Ball. The FSU Alumni Association also honored her with its highest award, "The Circle of Gold."
In 1998, she received the Boys Town of North Florida "Spirit of Youth" award (co-recipient with her husband, Buddy). Recently, the same organization adopted a proclamation designating November 1 as "June Strauss Day" at the local campus.
When not busy in the community, June enjoyed visiting with family and friends at the family coast house on St. Teresa Beach. Earlier in their marriage, she and Buddy loved traveling to the Grand Tetons in their RV. The couple also traveled to California, Canada and Maine. Periodically, she would take groups of grandchildren and great grandchildren to Washington, DC. for cultural excursions.
Known fondly to most as "Mama June," she was a mother to many. June truly lived out the "random acts of kindness" philosophy, helping to supplement various individuals' education, paying medical bills, praying with hurting friends, visiting people in the hospital and caring for the indigent.
She will be genuinely missed by those who knew her and those whose lives she influenced through her unselfish service.
June is survived by her six children: Ted Strauss (Rhonda), Jeannine McGinn, Catherine Strauss (Bruce Bell), Leslie Redding (Charley), Patrick Strauss and Julie Bettinger (Jim); 14 grandchildren: Sally Bay Stewart (Graham), Theo Strauss, Morgan Strauss, Falina Berg, Matt McGinn, Brian McGinn, Lacey Conner (Matt), Chas Galloway, Bud Galloway, Nicholas Bell, Sarah Jordan Redding, Alex Redding, Cody Strauss and Jackson Strauss; three great grandchildren: Nick Berg, Khloe Berg and Peyton McGinn.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy, parents, Blanche and Merrill Louis Fouts and her beloved grandson, Robby Redding.