June Marie Perdue

June Marie Harrison Perdue passed away, peacefully, on Saturday, March 19, 2016, in her residence at Solterra Senior Living in Lakeside, Arizona.  She was 94 years young!  June was born on a Sunday, June 19, 1921 in Syracuse, Kansas to her parents, the late Dr. Charles F. and Bessie "Bess" (Manker) Harrison.  June Marie attended Kansas State University for one year before marrying her first love, Lambert.June and Lambert Van Dyke Ward married on June 9, 1940.  Twin daughters, Leanna Lee and Deanna Dee were born on February 21, 1941, in Syracuse, Kansas.  They moved to Johnson, Kansas, then to Hobbs, New Mexico, where Lambert worked in the oil fields.  Eventually, the family made their way to Big Spring, Texas where the twins started school.  In 1952, Lambert and June bought a 5,000 acre cattle ranch outside of Stephenville, Texas. June became a rancher's wife, helping with the chores and she especially enjoyed horseback riding on her favorite horse, Stormy.June and Lambert moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado in 1956.  Traveling was a favorite pastime and one of their highlight trips was an African safari in 1970, another was spending 6 weeks in Tahiti, in 1962.  Lambert passed away from complications of kidney cancer on June 16, 1980.  One of June's passions was writing.  She published several short stories, and was working on a novel about the Civil War.  She was very active in Presbyterian Church activities, and was on the Hospital Board and the Museum Board in Fort Morgan.  June also enjoyed tennis, golf, playing bridge and was even a licensed pilot!She continued to travel.  Her adventures took her to England, Norway, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Easter Island, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.June was blessed to find another love and married Dr. James E. Perdue (Dean of Metropolitan State University of Denver) on August 14, 1988.  They continued to live in Fort Morgan and enjoyed 10 wonderful years together until Jim passed away on November 23, 1998.June sold her home of 45 years in Fort Morgan in 2000 and moved to Arizona to be closer to her two daughters.  She bought property in the Torreon division of Show Low and built a new home where she lived for 10 wonderful years, until she decided she needed a smaller place and moved to Solterra Senior Living in August of 2011.June was an amazing faithful Christian woman and will be missed terribly.  She was always with a smile and her wit and sense of humor was infectious.  Those left to treasure her memory are her daughter, Leanna; grandchildren:  Kim, Travis (Shannon), Leslie(Jim) and Jeff (Cindy); great-grandchildren:  Kasper, Keegan, Dalton, Moya, Michael, Justin, Briana, Brittney, Kayla, Kyle (Hannah), great-great-grandchildren:  Olivia and Madox.June is preceded in death by Lambert Ward, Jim Perdue, Deanna Dee, her parents and her brother, Fred.  There will be a private family memorial service in the near future.  Memorial contributions, in June's name, to the White Mountain Hospice Foundation:  P.O. Box 1975, Lakeside, Arizona 85929 have been suggested by her family.