1936
June
2022
June Smith
January 27, 1936 — August 24, 2022
A celebration of life service for Lawanda June Smith will be held at Claremore First Baptist Church, located at 107 E Will Rogers in Claremore, on Monday, August 29, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.. A visitation will be held Sunday, August 28, 2022 at MMS - Payne Funeral Home (formerly Musgrove Merriott Smith Services) located at 102 W 5th Street in Claremore, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. June passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Wednesday, August 24, 2022.
June was born on January 27, 1936 in Blue Jacket, Oklahoma to Virgil and Irene Ivie. She moved to Claremore, Oklahoma a spunky, red headed junior in high school with her parents and best friend, sister Betty. After graduating from Claremore High School, and prior to marriage, June commuted to Tulsa with high school friend Carlene Burkhard Webber, working for Sinclair Oil Company.
June met the love of her life, John Smith, her junior year of high school while working the soda fountain at Will Roger’s Sundry. It is said they decided to marry after they couldn’t agree who should get the ice cream maker they had each paid half for. John and June married December 23, 1955 and were married over 66 years.
John and June had two sons, John Jr. and Jeff, who she decided to stay home with and raise. Once the boys were older, June went back to work for Claremore Public Schools as special education assistant and vision and hearing coordinator, retiring after 16 years of service.
June has been a member of Claremore First Baptist Church just shy of 71 years, joining on October 28, 1951, where she taught Sunday School, was a sponsor of numerous Falls Creek youth camps, a member of WMU, and Sunday School Department Director for more than 30 years.
June loved spending time with friends and family, often cooking and making homemade ice cream. She was known as beloved “Mama June” to her six grandchildren, Hayden, Garrett, Katie, Jacob, Daniel, and Matt Smith. One of her grandchildren once said she had the best laugh ever.
June is preceded in death by her parents Virgil and Irene Ivie, sister Betty Wallace, brother-in-law Bob Wallace, niece Carol Coughran, and great-nephew Brian Coughran.
June is survived by her husband John Smith, son John Jr. and wife Shirley Kay, grandsons Hayden and wife Ivy, Garrett and wife Claire, son Jeff and wife Jeanne, granddaughter Katie, grandsons Jacob, Daniel, fiancé Paxton Lundquist, and Matt, nephew Max and wife Jeannie Wallace, great-nieces Miranda and husband Joe Woods, daughter Mackenzie, and Marcie and husband Chris Hill, sons Gage and Gunner.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to She Brews Ministry via His House Ministries one of three ways: Mail to P.O. Box 2040, Claremore, OK 74018; Text to (918) 300-3480; Online giving link https://shebrews.breezechms.com/give/online .
She Brews Coffee House, located in Claremore, Oklahoma, provides opportunities for women reentering society after struggling with problems like incarceration and drug addiction. His House Outreach Ministries, is a faith-based transitional home in Claremore. Women who are regaining their lives at His House are given the opportunity to work at She Brews to gain responsibility, leadership, trustworthiness, and social skills.
June was born on January 27, 1936 in Blue Jacket, Oklahoma to Virgil and Irene Ivie. She moved to Claremore, Oklahoma a spunky, red headed junior in high school with her parents and best friend, sister Betty. After graduating from Claremore High School, and prior to marriage, June commuted to Tulsa with high school friend Carlene Burkhard Webber, working for Sinclair Oil Company.
June met the love of her life, John Smith, her junior year of high school while working the soda fountain at Will Roger’s Sundry. It is said they decided to marry after they couldn’t agree who should get the ice cream maker they had each paid half for. John and June married December 23, 1955 and were married over 66 years.
John and June had two sons, John Jr. and Jeff, who she decided to stay home with and raise. Once the boys were older, June went back to work for Claremore Public Schools as special education assistant and vision and hearing coordinator, retiring after 16 years of service.
June has been a member of Claremore First Baptist Church just shy of 71 years, joining on October 28, 1951, where she taught Sunday School, was a sponsor of numerous Falls Creek youth camps, a member of WMU, and Sunday School Department Director for more than 30 years.
June loved spending time with friends and family, often cooking and making homemade ice cream. She was known as beloved “Mama June” to her six grandchildren, Hayden, Garrett, Katie, Jacob, Daniel, and Matt Smith. One of her grandchildren once said she had the best laugh ever.
June is preceded in death by her parents Virgil and Irene Ivie, sister Betty Wallace, brother-in-law Bob Wallace, niece Carol Coughran, and great-nephew Brian Coughran.
June is survived by her husband John Smith, son John Jr. and wife Shirley Kay, grandsons Hayden and wife Ivy, Garrett and wife Claire, son Jeff and wife Jeanne, granddaughter Katie, grandsons Jacob, Daniel, fiancé Paxton Lundquist, and Matt, nephew Max and wife Jeannie Wallace, great-nieces Miranda and husband Joe Woods, daughter Mackenzie, and Marcie and husband Chris Hill, sons Gage and Gunner.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to She Brews Ministry via His House Ministries one of three ways: Mail to P.O. Box 2040, Claremore, OK 74018; Text to (918) 300-3480; Online giving link https://shebrews.breezechms.com/give/online .
She Brews Coffee House, located in Claremore, Oklahoma, provides opportunities for women reentering society after struggling with problems like incarceration and drug addiction. His House Outreach Ministries, is a faith-based transitional home in Claremore. Women who are regaining their lives at His House are given the opportunity to work at She Brews to gain responsibility, leadership, trustworthiness, and social skills.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of June Smith, please visit our flower store.
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Sunday, August 28, 2022
2:00 - 5:00 pm (Central time)
MMS - Payne Funeral Home & Cremation Service
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