June Ann Boyd

June Ann (Harris) Boyd, 81, was born Sept. 19, 1942, in Kansas City, Mo., to Richard Harris and Thelma (O’Niel) Harris. She entered into eternal rest Dec. 30, 2023, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.

Our beloved June was cherished by all who knew her. She was a bright, brave wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all. 

After leaving Missouri when she was 3, June lived the majority of her childhood in California. In 1960 she graduated from Polytechnic High in Long Beach, Calif.

In November of 1960 June met the love of her life, LeRoy (Skip) Hudson Boyd. They began their life-long venture eloping to Winterhaven, Calif., on New Year’s Eve 1962, and they never looked back as they became best friends for life.

In late September 1963 they welcomed the first of their two sons, Steven. A short two years later, in September 1965, son Jeffry completed their adventurous family.

LeRoy (Skip) and June made many memories camping and Mount Rainier National Park soon became an annual trip for the Boyd family. That tradition was extended to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren and continues to this day.

June was employed in a variety of clerical and financial positions during her adult life. For many years she was employed as a teller at Rainier Bank in Moses Lake and later in accounts payable and the maintenance department at Samaritan Hospital. June was a dedicated and treasured coworker and remained friends with so many to this day.

Over the years, with the boys in tow, and continuing after their family was raised and they retired, June and LeRoy (Skip) enjoyed many extensive road trips. June kept a journal of each one. They traveled to Alaska; Newport, R.I.; Branson, Mo.; Memphis and Nashville, Tenn. They also visited friends and family in California, Texas, Missouri and Minnesota over the years.

June began the journey of her heart in 1985 with the birth of her granddaughter, Kirsten. In 1986 and 1988 grandsons Dustin and Anthony (Tony) joined the family. June took pride in being an active and doting grandmother. She introduced her grandchildren to music, the piano and guitar. She spent many hours supporting her grandchildren in a variety of sports, recitals, and school programs. She planned outings to Lake Lenore, and Wanapum Dam, just to name a few, and of course, there were numerous camping trips. There were board games, card games and puzzles; never a dull moment at Grandma and Grandpa’s! Eventually, she became a great-grandma and the traditions continued.

A devout Christian, after much study and reflection June became a member of the Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church in the 1980s. She was very involved in church activities, volunteering and managing weekly bank deposits for several years. June made many lifelong friends among the members.

After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2017 June began the battle to “just be normal.” With her devoted husband by her side and the support of her loving family she put up a brave fight. Sadly she succumbed 10 minutes before her 61st anniversary.

June was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Jack Harris of Minnesota, and Leonard Harris of Missouri.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, LeRoy (Skip) Hudson Boyd; sons Steven (Lori) and Jeffry (Rhonda); grandchildren Kirsten Chavez (Jose), Dustin Boyd and Anthony Boyd; great-grandchildren Makenna, Kysen and Rysik Chavez; sister Gail Williams; brother Ron Dean; and numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great -nephews.

“I’d love to be up on the mountain, on the south side where the sunshine warms the breeze.

Just above the glow of the campfires down below, and the smoke comes drifting through the trees.” … Lyrics by LeRoy (Skip) Boyd to his June Ann

Memorial services will be held in honor of June’s life Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at 2 p.m. with dinner to follow at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1601 W. Valley Road Moses Lake, Wash. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://act.alz.org.