June Blevins Fox Gilkison was born June 24, 1928 to Clefton and Clara Patton Blevins on the family homestead at Decker, Montana. She attended Squirrel Creek School and then boarded in Sheridan to attend Sheridan High School, graduating in 1946.

She married Gene Fox June 4, 1946 in Hardin, Mt. They worked on various ranches from Birney, Mt to Kaycee, WY ending at the Padlock Ranch where Gene was Cattle Foreman and June cooked for the hired men. They had two daughters, Arlene and Debbie. Gene passed away September 29, 1959. June and the girls moved into Sheridan where June went to work in the kitchen at the VA Hospital.

June married Milo Gilkison October 6, 1962 in Sheridan. They had one daughter Pattie.

From the kitchen at the VA June transferred to the job of nurse’s aide. She was in the first group of female nurses aides to work at the VA. After many years as a nurse’s aide she transferred to the clothing room. She served as Union Steward and President of the Local 1219 Union while employed at the VA. June retired from the VA after 32 years of service.

June and Milo had many happy times taking trips to go hunting, fishing, arrowhead hunting and always looking for that "special" rock. They had an extensive artifact and rock collection from everywhere they had traveled.

They were among the first members of the Blue Sky Saddle Club and they were both 4-H leaders for many years.

Milo passed away May 18, 1993.

June took one more trip, with her sister Josie. In 1994 they traveled for six weeks visiting relatives all the way from Sheridan to Atlanta, on to the original Blevins place in Crumpler, N. Carolina. From there on up the East Coast to NY and then across the northern states back to WY. She brought home rocks (labeled of course) from every place they stopped.

Her greatest joy in life was being a grandma and great grandma.

She was a member of the Methodist Church, VFW Ladies Aux. and spent many happy hours playing cards and bingo at the Senior Center. Sadly she suffered the affects of Alzheimer’s but she was still able to enjoy listening to her favorite music. She loved to putter around the house or in the yard and garden, always singing or humming one of her favorite songs.

June was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, sister Lucille Blevins Shreve, two half sisters - Jessie Blevins McCall and Irene Blevins Povey.

She is survived by her daughters Arlene (Ric) Harrington of LaPorte, Colorado; Debbie Hale of Gillette, WY and Pattie (Gary) Legerski of Los Fresnos, TX. Grandchildren Royce (Jen) Hale, Denver, CO, Gene (Stacey) Hale, Sheridan, and Gwen Hale (Ty) Wright of Gillette. Great Grand children Chasely Morgan, Dawson and Keaton Wright, Nicholas and Marcus Hale. Sisters Josie Schreibeis of Sheridan; Virginia Brocius of Lovell and Pat Rudolf of Gillette. Brother Robert Blevins of Sheridan. She is also survived by 4 generations of nieces and nephews as well as her life long best friend Bonnie Cotton of Sheridan.

Graveside services for June will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, May 28, 2010 at the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery, with Reverend Doug Goodwin officiating. A luncheon reception to follow at the Big Horn Mountains Eagles Lodge #4169, 1740 Commercial Lane Ave., Sheridan, WY.

In lieu of flowers the family asks you donate to 4-H at Sheridan County 4-H Foundation, Sheridan County Extension Office, 224 S. Main St. Suite B-10, Sheridan, WY 82801 or the Blue Sky Saddle Club c/o Kiel Shelden, 51 Sherri View Dr., Sheridan, WY 82801.

Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

The Sheridan Press - May 26, 2010.