June (Richardson) Mckown

June Richardson McKown, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. She was 93.

June was born March 23, 1921, in Westport, Indiana, to H. Dean Richardson and Florence Low Richardson, joining her brother Wayne. Her father died when she was 8.

June spent her childhood years working in her mother's Standard Oil Gas Station and at Ferguson's Grocery Store. She also sold subscriptions to and delivered The Indianapolis News, earning trips to the 1933 Chicago World's Fair and Washington, D.C. She graduated in a class of nine from Westport High School in 1939. Accepted at Indiana University, June was driven to Bloomington by her school superintendent, who dropped her at a corner. It was up to her to register, pay for school and find housing. She became a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and was on the staff of the Indiana Daily Student. She met her husband, James A. McKown of Marion, Indiana, a fellow IU student, who told her on their first date that they would marry and he would go to law school. June graduated IU with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1943 and married 2nd on July 3 that same year.

While her husband was stationed in Europe during World War II, June began her career at International News Service in Indianapolis as a sports reporter, writing under by the byline of E.J. Richardson, the initials of her given name, so her gender would not be revealed. She also worked for Jep Cadou at the former Indianapolis Times, and at Camp Atterbury during the war years.

Following her husband's return from Europe, the two moved to the Boston area, where he attended and graduated from Harvard Law School, and where their eldest child, Marcia, was born. They returned to Marion, where shortly thereafter her husband was elected to two terms as Grant County Prosecutor, and where he continued to practice law until his death on May 15, 2002. Two more children, Janet and James Jr., were born in Marion.

For many years, June was head of public relations for the Marion Community Chest, now the United Way of Grant County. She created and edited - with Don and Ed Cole - Image magazine, which won numerous national and state awards. She produced and edited PulseLines, the news magazine of Marion General Hospital. And she was a freelance contributor to The Indianapolis Star's former Sunday magazine.

June was actively involved in her community. She served two terms on the Marion Community Schools Board during a time of growth - when the Bill Green Arena and Richie Walton Auditorium were built at the high school. She served multiple terms on the board of directors of Marion General Hospital and the Family Service Society, and was active in Tri Kappa sorority most of her adult life. She served on the board of trustees at First United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School classes and was a member of the UMW Circle. She was also a member of the Advanced Club for years. June wrote and edited the 200-page "Marion: A Pictorial History," which was published in 1989 - which was reprinted in a second edition and is still sought online.

She and her husband were able to travel through much of Europe and the world, often in the company of their good friends, Lloyd and Peggy Finch of Marion. After her husband's death, she enjoyed summers and family reunions at Lake Tippecanoe with children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Later in life, she enjoyed painting, continuing to do so until her eyesight failed her in her 90s. After health setbacks, she moved to assisted living at The Stratford in Carmel, Indiana, where she made new friends and painted as long as she could.

She is survived by her three children, Marcia Moon of Marion, Janet Alexander (William) of Carmel, and James McKown Jr. (Loni) of Carmel; six grandchildren, David Scott Moon, Michael Moon, Adam Moon, Marissa McKown, Lauren McKown and Anthony Alexander; seven great-grandchildren; a niece and four nephews.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 W. Kem Road, Marion, Indiana. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, in the funeral home. Friends may also visit an hour before the funeral.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Family Service Society of Grant County, Indiana, or to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at ravenchoate.com