June Ashton

Biography

June Miriam Ashton passed away peacefully on Sunday. August 2, 2015 surrounded by her family at home. June was born in Santa Monica, California on November 10, 1930, she was 84. Her fraternal twin, Joy Brown, continues to live in California.

June's family moved back to the East coast when they were teenagers. They attended high school in Blakely, Georgia. June attended Florida State University for three years. Her parents moved to Miami and when she went home for a summer job, she met the love of her life, James "Jim" Haviland Ashton. June and Jim were married 54 years before he passed away in 2008. They married in 1951 and their children followed within the next couple of years. She is also predeceased by her son David Haviland Ashton who passed away in 1976.

She is survived by her daughter Katherine (Kathy) Ashton Zorn and her husband Richard. June has four grandchildren, Shawn Ford and his wife Mikah, Scott Ford and his wife Jaqulin, Keith Watkins and his wife Ingrid and Shelby Watkins Duncan and her husband Chris. She has one great-grandson Gavin Ashton Ford, who always called her Grandma Great.

June graduated Cum Laude from the University of Miami, 15 years after leaving FSU, with a degree in Education. She received her Master's Degree from Barry College several years later. She loved teaching Elementary school. She accepted a position teaching the gifted children late in her career. Her class competed in the state competition with the subject being government. They interviewed the State Attorney, Janet Reno, before the competition, getting her perspective. They won the state competition, the National competition and then the world competition for their presentation.

Every year "Mrs. Ashton" took her class to the Everglades National Park to camp and learn about the environment. It was the class who had won the National competition that entertained President George H. W. Bush while he was working on legislation to save the "Glades". This class of 25 was there when he came to the park and they taught him all about the Everglades. Several months later the President of the United States mentioned the class in his State of The Union Address. The White House sent her a letter and a copy of the speech highlighting what he had said about the "budding environmentalists".

June was an avid reader, loved sports and politics and was always active in her church. She was an Episcopalian.

Her family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at Faith Funeral Home in Havana, Florida, followed by a short service at 11:00 a.m. The graveside service will take place at 1:00 pm at the family plot in Cedar Springs, Georgia. Memorial donations may be made to Big Bend Hospice of Tallahassee.

Faith Funeral Home in Havana is in charge of arrangements (850-539-4300 or www.faithfuneralhome.com)

Visitation

Saturday August 8, 2015, 10:00 a.m. at Faith Funeral Home Chapel
Click for Map and Directions

Funeral Service

Saturday August 8, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at Faith Funeral Home Chapel
Click for Map and Directions

Interment

Saturday August 8, 2015, 1:00 p.m. at Cedar Springs Cemetery
Click for Map and Directions