June Murray Hill Bowen

June Murray Hill Bowen
On Saturday, February 14, 2015, a strong, dark, and handsome Marine came by and once again swept his girl off to the Valentine Dance. A perfect day to a storybook ending couldn’t have been better penned for two sweethearts to be reunited. June Murray Hill Bowen tenderly and quietly passed away on that blessed day in Logan, Utah at the age of 85.
June was born in Wellsville, Utah on June 2, 1929, the youngest of six children to Elizabeth Hendry Murray and Alexander Ray Poppleton Hill. Her younger years were spent cherishing those siblings. She loved them all dearly and together they learned how to work, developing talents, and creating memories to last a lifetime.. The passing of her mother at age 15 became a defining moment in her life and honed the skills that would later prove to be a blessing to others that needed a mother in their lives. June’s most priceless possession was her family and she devoted her life in pursuit of their happiness, holding family reunions, and collecting family histories to preserve their heritage.
June attended school in Wellsville and graduated from South Cache High School in 1947 where she active in cheerleading and as a drum majorette. Throughout these grand years she made lifelong friends that that has endured the ages.
While in high school, someone caught her eye and she fell madly in love with a lad from Mendon… Frederick David Bowen. The love story continued when they were married in the Logan Temple on June 28, 1948. Sixty-five years of total devotion and endless service stand as a testament to this marriage.
As Fred was called to military service, she followed her Marine to Camp Pendleton, California and then Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. She was skilled as a tailor there, altering military uniforms. This skill followed her after dad’s military service was complete.
She made her home with her husband in Mendon, Utah and nurtured and cultivated that home with love and care until it became the pride of the town. There they also became the goodly parents of two children; a son, Eric David, and a daughter, Nicole.
The best two-word description for June Bowen was “busy bee”. She always had to be doing something. Work was a pastime for June. She worked through the years at Clearfield Cheese, Wurlitzter, Cache Master (where she made fishing poles), and Mr. Mac. She was also a seamstress and tailor at home, serving many people with that service. Wherever she worked she was very good at what she did and was extremely meticulous.
She had a love for the outdoors. She loved camping, snowmobiling, and trips to Bear Lake with “the gang”. She looked forward to work the soil on Bowen’s Corner. Her vegetable and flower gardens were perfectly tended and nurtured and many people stopped to visit and admire her work. It wasn’t uncommon for her to stay out way past dark, just to keep ahead of the neighbors. Competition was fierce on that block.
June had a tremendous sense of humor. Her quick wit, her pranks, and hilarious sayings made her the life of the party. A trait that she mastered in her early family life with her brothers and sisters and has now instilled this great gift into her own children and grandchildren. Her humor will be alive and well for generations to come.
June loved to play card games of all types and was an accomplished pinochle player. She was a member of the Just-a-Mere club for many years.
June loved music and although she could not read music, she sang soprano in trios and quartets with cherished friends for many years. There was always music in the home.
June was taught by her parents the importance of service. She served in her church, in her community, and all who crossed her path. She loved to see to the needs of the sick, the needy, and the downtrodden. In her church service, she served in ward and stake levels of the M. I. A., Relief Society, Ward Librarian and singing in the choir. Her devotion to history led her to dedicate time to service as an officer in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
Without a doubt, the two church callings that she enjoyed most were that of and Dance Director (with Fred right by her side), and Primary Chorister. She influenced the lives of countless children and teenagers through song and dance for 28 years. Whenever these people would meet up with mom, it was always the first thing they talked about.
Civically speaking, June was everywhere and loved to serve her community. She was especially involved in the Mendon May Day celebration teaching the May Pole Dance to many little girls over the years. In 1992, she followed T. K. Sorensen’s steps leading the May Day procession and the music for next 20 years and earned the title of “Mrs. May Day”. She relentlessly collected many histories of over 150 Mendon May Day Queens.
June’s greatest calling in this life was that of caretaker. When Fred went down in 2000, her total devotion to her shining knight was unmatched. She saw to his every need at home for the first five years until she could do it no more. Then she was by his side when he had to go to the rest home for care. For 8 more years, she faithfully visited him and was his light until his passing in 2013.
The legacy she leaves behind is a tribute to the life she led. In each member of our family, you will find a bit of June. Countless lives touched by service, laughter and the ability to leave light where ever she was. Truly, she was a faithful disciple of her Savior, and her faith.
Dementia had taken its place in June’s life and led to much frustration and loss of independence. But her humor and her determination kept her going in the most remarkable way until she answered Fred’s Valentine call. And now she has been restored to the royalty she deserves.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Fred, her siblings and their spouses: Elda (Carl) Christiansen, Ray M. (Ellen) Hill, Beth (Wendell) Munk, LeDean (Bill) Campbell, and her twin, Col. Jay M. (Dolores) Hill; and a brother-in-law, Robert W. Bowen.
She is survived by her children, Eric David (Terri) Bowen, Mendon, Utah, and Nicole B. (Del) Hillary, Sandy, Utah. She is the proud Grandma to nine grandchildren and an even prouder Great Grandma to five great grandchildren with one more in the oven coming soon. Great Grandma gets to see that one first…
A viewing and visitation will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2015, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at the Nelson Funeral Home at 162 East 400 North in Logan, Utah.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, February 20, 2015 at the old Mendon 4th Ward LDS Church at 20 North and 100 West in Mendon with Bishop Mark Montgomery, conducting. A viewing will be prior to the funeral from 10:30 am to 11:30 am Burial will be in the Mendon Cemetery
We extend heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff of Memory Lane at the Sunshine Terrace for your dedication and love for mom. You are all heroes in our eyes. We also express our appreciation and our love to Dr. Brian W. Carlson, MD for his wonderfully professional and compassionate care for June. We know she was in good hands. Thank you.
Celebrate her passing by singing your favorite Primary song.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com