June Eleanor Ponis

June Eleanor (Gemmer) Ponis, youngest of six children born to Edward Gemmer and Lorus (Thomas) Gemmer passed away suddenly on March 12, 2014.

June was born at home in Machias, WA in Snohomish County on February 19, 1931.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, John T. Ponis, in Soap Lake WA. Their children: Laura (Alex) Wright, Linda (Maurice) Olson, J. Andrew (Mary Ann) Ponis, Anthony Ponis, LaVeta (Jim) Arnold, and Bryce N. (Glenett) Ponis. Also 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

June also leaves her two sisters: Dorothy Schroeder and Mildred Williams, and a great many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

June was preceded in death by her infant daughter Lana Ponis, and her three brothers, Edson Gemmer, Daryl Gemmer, and Quentin Gemmer.

June met and married her husband John in Soap Lake in 1947. They were married 66 years, living in Grant, Snohomish, Yakima, and Lewis counties before retiring back to Soap Lake.

John and June owned and operated Country Gardens Nursery, orchard, and produce store on highway 28 west of Quincy WA for 8 years. June was a master gardener and farmed wherever they lived. She taught gardening at Centralia College. She took care of home and family while John travelled around the state in his job as a food inspector for the Wash State Dept. of Agriculture.

June was proud of her work with the campfire girls, 4-H, and especially the Boy Scouts of America which honored her for her 28 years of service.

Her hobbies included crafting, jewelry making, and doll collecting. She was an expert genealogist, researching and documenting her family back many generations. June was a Mayflower descendent, proud of her family's role in 500 years of American history.

As snowbirds, June and John travelled in their RV for many years exploring the United States from Canada to Mexico. One year they went to Germany. They had just returned from wintering in Arizona.

June was a member of the Ephrata Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was laid to rest in the Valley View Cemetery in Soap Lake, WA. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

There will be a celebration of her life on April 5th at 1:00 pm for family and friends at the Soap Lake Community Senior Citizen's Center. 121 2nd Ave SE, Soap Lake, WA.