- Date Of Birth: July 28, 1936
- Date Of Death: February 11, 2014
- State: Arizona
June King, of Flagstaff, died peacefully at Flagstaff Medical Center on February 11th, 2014. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri on July 28th, 1936, to Robert and Elizabeth Palmer, and spent her childhood years on a farm in rural Missouri. Her world expanded at Ruskin High School and she blossomed, editing the school paper and yearbook, singing in choir and performing in plays, winning the Missouri state typing championship and becoming valedictorian of her class. In 1954 she married her high school sweetheart, Thomas D O’Neill. For the next 17 years she traveled with him and their growing family as a military wife and working mother. In 1973 she came to Northern Arizona, settling in Tusayan, just south of Grand Canyon, where she met her second husband, mule wrangler and blacksmith Uliss (Shorty) King. They relocated to Flagstaff in 1983, where she was at various times a medical transcriptionist, real estate broker, secretary, bookkeeper, office manager and business owner. Upon her retirement after Shorty’s death, June volunteered for many years as a respite care provider and caregiver group facilitator with Northland Hospice. June’s three children were the light of her life. She considered them to be the most important reason for her to be here, and was very proud of their accomplishments over the years. The second most important aspect of her life was writing. She enjoyed success as a free-lance writer for a number of years, publishing in regional and national magazines. She kept a journal for over 50 years. Another source of joy and inspiration to her was flying. She received her private pilot’s license in Hawaii in 1970. Juneloved animals and plants, enjoying the orchids and other flowers she grew in her greenhouse, and caring for the many cats who adopted her over the years. June had a strong, deep-rooted religious faith which served her well throughout her life. She was always a seeker, looking for ways to improve the world around her and looking for the good in others, sometimes to the surprise of those in whom she found it. She cared deeply about people and kept many lasting friendships. She never lost her innate strength and enthusiasm, her great sense of humor, and her love of life and learning. June was predeceased by her parents, her brother Shunyam Nirav (birth name Robert Palmer), her husband Shorty King, and her niece Karen Swayne. She is survived by her children Colleen O’Neill, Bridget O’Neill and Sean O’Neill (Adrienne); three grandchildren Ben O’Neill, Brad Martin and Alicia Martin; her sister Marge Swayne (Rick), nephew Scott Swayne, grandniece Amy Bryant (Will), and her beloved cats.
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