June was born Dec 3, 1928 in Oxnard Ca. to Art V and Marion Miller, and was the younger of two daughters. She passed from this world, at home, with family and her beloved cat on Oct 5, 2018 in Sandy, Utah. She married Robert Ryburn in 1954, and later divorced. She is survived by her daughter Diane (Floyd) Edwards, son Frank Ryburn; grandchildren Robert (Kori), Alicia (Geoff), Michelle (Artumus), Nathan (Codie) and Janice; and great-grandchildren Jeremy, Abby, Kiaya, Lizzy, Xander, Millie, and Liam. She was preceded in death by her daughter Lorene (Bryan) Wells, and her sister Jeanne (Ed) Sargent.
She was an active and involved grandmother and great-grandmother, and loved to introduce her grandchildren to adventures in nature. She regularly took them on camping, hiking, and bird watching expeditions throughout the Great Basin area in Utah and Nevada, and encouraged her grandchildren to learn about the world around them. She loved to spend time with and share her knowledge with her great-grandchildren, and collected stories and pictures to share with them. Her grandchildren fondly remember many nights spent sleeping over at her house, playing games together and watching the British television shows that she loved.
To go with her iconic "bucket hat" she had a prodigious "bucket list." June was an office manager for many years, and upon retirement she set out to do "all those things I didn't get to do while I was working." To that end, she participated in art classes, dance classes, woodcarving, computers, photography, pottery making and even belly dancing.
June was always on the prowl for ways to make the world better. Some of the causes she threw her heart into were: DWR Watchable Wildlife Events, such as Bald Eagle Day, Mountain Goat Day, Snow Goose Day and Kokanee Salmon Day. She toted her spotting scope all over the state to share her enthusiasm for wildlife and wild lands with others. Recognized for 20 years of collecting data on Great Salt Lake shorebirds, she was the co-recipient of the 2018 State of Utah DWR Volunteer of the Year Award.
At 75, she caught the eye of a visiting reporter and was quoted in the New York Times describing her responsibilities in protecting fledgling peregrine falcons in downtown Salt Lake. Fortunately she did not actually have to "throw [her]self in front of the cars," although she did get to climb through the beehive on the Joseph Smith building to release a young bird to safety.
An unflagging supporter of the GSL Audubon Society, she served for many years as their secretary. She prepared, labeled and mailed thousands of newsletters to its membership and also ran their annual Black Oiled Sunflower Seed fundraiser. She was ever passionate about learning, and especially enjoyed helping others learn about nature. She attended Bird Festivals, Home and Garden shows and other conservation-related activities, faithfully setting up an information booth to help the public connect with GSL Audubon, nature trips and backyard birding.
She was the enthusiastic leader of the Sandy Senior Center Naturalist classes with their monthly field trips. For a time she helped run the yard sale to raise funds. She set up bird feeders outside "the Center" so people there could enjoy watching birds from inside.
Practical and pragmatic, independent and energetic, she will be missed by her family and many others for whom she made a difference.
A special thank you to Jami and her team at Harmony Hospice for kind and tender care over these last few months.
A Celebration of Life/Open House will be held in her honor on Sunday, October 14 from 3:00-5:00 at 10191 S Heytesbury Lane, Sandy Utah.
