June Barrett

June Feezel Barrett went to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on October 13, 2021 after 105 full years of life. A memorial service for June will be held on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 10:00 am at the First Methodist Church of Artesia. The Reverend Monty Leavell will officiate. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 17, from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Terpening and Son Mortuary in Artesia. Interment will be at Twin Oaks Memorial Park in Artesia.

June was born in Fayette County, Illinois on June 19, 1916 to Oscar Feezel and Sarah O’Delia Feezel. June grew up on a farm with her three sisters. With no brothers to help with the farm work, June grew up plowing the fields with a horse drawn plow, taking care of farm animals, and working in the fields during harvest. Although many young women of her era did not have the opportunity to go to high school, June worked picking strawberries to raise money to put herself through the closest high school, which required her to live away from home for the first time.

After high school, June and her sisters moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. There, June met Robert ‘Bob’ Barrett, and they were married on May 25, 1940 and were married for 63 years. Legend has it that after the wedding Bob had to play his trumpet in a small dance band to pay the preacher who performed their wedding. Their two children, Sharon and Steve, were born in Indianapolis. In April of 1951, June and Bob moved to Artesia, which they were proud to call home for 47 years. In 1998, Bob and June moved to a retirement home in El Paso, Texas to be near their daughter due to health needs. Bob died in El Paso in November of 2003, and June moved to the Villa del Rey retirement community in Roswell, New Mexico in January of 2005. Eventually she moved to Peachtree Village.

During her time in Artesia, June was an active member of the community. June was always ready to reach out to her fellow Artesian and served for years in various organizations. She was active in the American Legion Auxiliary for decades, eventually serving as president of the organization. June was also the driver coordinator for the First United Methodist Church volunteers for Meals on Wheels, a volunteer for AARP 55 Alive driving classes, treasurer of the Helpers Club of the Good Samaritan Nursing Home and served in many roles as an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Artesia and United Methodist Women.

June had many interesting careers throughout her life. Early on, she worked for a doctor and even handed him the instruments during her own tonsillectomy. In Artesia, June worked as an office manager for Fred Brainard. She also worked for Irby Drug, for Dr. Wall and later June was manager of the Gold Bond and Frontier Stamp Redemption Centers in Artesia.

June was also a devoted wife and mother. She was always so proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and loved spending time with them. June’s cinnamon rolls, which her grandchildren dubbed ‘straight-lines’ (since they straightened them out before eating them) were legendary. June was an outstanding cook and her family especially loved her biscuits and gravy.

June loved many things in life like traveling, playing games with her friends and family, watching football (she could call every play) and going to see the horse races in Ruidoso. June’s special love of music meant that she could annually be found listening to the Flying J Wranglers singing “Song for New Mexico”, which was June’s favorite song. Interestingly, June rarely sang in church. She would say that’s because she didn’t want to ‘mess up’ the hymn, but she really just loved listening to her husband Bob’s beautiful baritone voice.

June’s cheerful spirit and genuine love for others was infectious. She was famous for doting on any child in the vicinity and seemed to be an adopted grandma to an endless number of children who would come to chat with her and play games. Her joy in life was helping others and she looked for opportunities, big or small, to do for others. June’s expansive love and laughter will be missed by all who were blessed to know her.

June is preceded in death by her mother, her father, husband, siblings, and one great grandchild. June is survived by her daughter Sharon Knorr husband Dan, son Steve Barrett wife Sherrie, five grandchildren (Kelly (Jeff) Scarbel, Kerry (Ioannis) Barrett-Berdos, Bo (Holly) Barrett, Gabrielle (Michael) Keenum, and Daniel (Amy) Knorr), and ten great grandchildren (Jake Scarbel, Nikos Berdos, Hannah Barrett, Ellie Barrett, Faith Barrett, Mikaela Keenum, Shaler Keenum, Chloe Keenum, Lizzie Knorr, and Emma Jayne Knorr).

The family would like to express their appreciation to Peachtree Village for providing a warm and caring environment to call her home. We would also like to thank June’s caregivers for their constant love and compassionate care. We are thankful to Encompass Hospice for their kind help and support.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations in June’s name to The First United Methodist Church of Artesia, 500 W. Grand Ave, Artesia, New Mexico and the Assurance Home, 1000 E. 18th Street, Roswell, NM (www.assurancehome.org).