January 15, 2022
June Howell Nash passed away January 15, 2022 at the Bulkley Lodge in Smithers, at the age of 90. Born in San Bernardino, California, in 1931, she moved to Preston, Idaho in the late forties, where she met and married widower Grant Nash in 1951. Grant had 5 children and June became stepmother, and then they had 4 of their own. In 1962 with five children, they moved to the upper Kispiox Valley and homesteaded 160 acres. One of the first things June did was to proudly become a Canadian citizen. Over the years as a young woman in the US, she held various jobs, was an excellent swimmer and for a short while she was a lifeguard, waitress, ran her own café, was a champion bowler, played softball and rode horses when she had an extra minute. In Canada, she was a cook at Miracle Valley and the Sportsman's Lodge. She worked at the Hudson's Bay store in Kitwanga, the Kitwanga General store and in the late 70's went back to school and became a certified hairdresser. She canned and preserved and her pantry was always full. She was a beautiful singer, taught all of her children the love of music. She loved the theatre and ballet, and one of her most memorable moments was getting a standing ovation as Marilla, in the play of Anne of Green Gables. She had a great sense of humour and loved a good joke. She was a great supporter of all the rodeos, gymkhanas, horse races, fall fairs and poker rides. She announced the fall fair horse show in Smithers many times. She loved fishing and floating the river, gardening, had beautiful flowers and trees, and as she slowed down some, her years were filled with family get togethers and cookouts. In her 70's she moved to Summerland for a few years and became a favourite as a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. She moved back to the Kispiox Valley where she spent her last years until she moved into the Bulkley Lodge. We'll miss her laughter, her beautiful harmony when we sing, her twinkling violet eyes, her fried bread, and her ability to make each one of us feel like we were her favourite.
A memorial and celebration of her life will be held later this year.
She is survived by her children, Anita Rallison, Diane Gioello, Stewart Nash, Rand Nash, Francis Stokes, Joy Allen, Dave Nash, Sindee Serle, Lisa Nash, all of her precious progeny and her favourite son and daughter in laws.
Special thanks to the staff of the Bulkley Valley Lodge, and to Doctor Haskins for taking such good care of our Mom.