Lois June Van Auken

Lois “June” Van Auken was born June 15, 1934 in Medford, Oregon to Leendert “Louis” & Blanch “Pearl” Verschoor. She met Donald Earl Van Auken in Medford and they married in 1950. They moved to Olympia, Washington and raised 4 daughters.

June had various jobs in her lifetime some of which included working in a canning company, waitressing at the lunch counter at Woolworths in South Sound Mall, working at a coat factory in downtown Olympia and then finally for the Dept of Labor & Industries where she retired in 1992 after 22 1/2 years of service.

Mom loved to sing, draw and of course dance. She also enjoyed crafting throughout the years. Her work can be found in the homes of many of her family members and friends, from Christmas decorations, dolls, stuffed animals, you name it she probably made it at one time.

Mom was a snowbird for many years. She enjoyed spending time in the sun at her home in Yuma, Arizona. When she was home in Olympia during the summer months, she loved spending time with her grandkids and tending her flowers that she had in pots in her backyard. In the past few years she has enjoyed watching and feeding the animals in her back yard. On any given day there would be 4-6 squirrels, several varieties of birds and even a couple rabbits that squeezed under the fence.

June is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Don of 34 years, her daughter Debbie, her only sister May McGowan, her brothers Bill, Jake, Brew, Howard, Wayne and Clarence Verschoor, her grandson Larry Rodgers III, her great granddaughter Natasha, her partner of 20 plus years Jim Van Auken and not to be forgotten, her sidekick Rocky.

She is survived by her daughters Cathy (Tom) Dodson, Susan (Bruce) Moneymaker and Tammy DeFoe. Her grandchildren Terry Kazanis, Donetta Hanson, Melissa (Bobby) Hernandez, Heather Rodgers, Ashley Ontiveros, Jessica Tuomi, 20 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson. In addition, she is survived by her sisters in laws Arlene Munn, Carol Van Auken, Martha, Ella & Pat Verschoor, numerous cousins, nieces & nephews and of course many, many friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Providence Sound Home Care & Hospice, the Alzheimer’s Association or to the American Heart Association.