June Christine (Miller) Blakemore

June Christine (Miller) Blakemore

June 1, 1944 -  February 12, 2026

            God saw you getting tired and the cure was not to be, so he put his arms around you and whispered 'come with me.'  With tearful eyes I watched you suffer, and saw you fade away.  Although I loved you dearly, I could not make you stay.  A golden heart stopped beating, your hard working hands to rest, God's blessings come in life, or death, and in both you passed the test.

June Christine (Miller) Blakemore passed away peacefully with her family around her on February 12, 2026.

June was born to Tyrus and Cecil (Phillips) Miller of Harbor Springs, the 4th generation of Millers to live in their home on State Street.  She grew up in her family home with her siblings, and graduated from Harbor Springs High School in 1962.  While attending school, June met and fell in love with her husband, Bill Blakemore, the first time she saw him, telling others, "I'm going to marry him some day."  Following graduation, June attended cosmetology school while Bill was away serving in the United States Navy.  As soon as they could arrange it, they married while Bill was on leave after she finished cosmetology school.  After Bill left the service, they returned to Harbor Springs to work and raise their family.  June was well known in the community and had a great following of women and men, who looked forward to June's smiling face, warm and caring demeaner and dedication to helping them look good!  Her last work as a hair dresser was at June's Harbor Salon, where she worked diligently, along with Bill when he retired, to make their clients feel uplifted after a visit to her shop, enjoying a hug, a smile, good conversation, and always a cup of coffee offered by Bill.  When she started to develop the symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia, it became more and more of a struggle for her to continue working, and yet retiring and selling the shop was not easy and she worried about her patrons and how they were doing, even as her ability to remember their names started to fade. After retirement, June was steadfastly attended to by Bill, and daughters, Sondra Festerling and Marsha Bristor and their families.  Their personal sacrifices can never be rewarded enough. 

During their 61-year marriage, Bill and June were always seen hand in hand at whatever function they attended.  They were truly devoted to each other and their three daughters, Marsha Blakemore (Kirk) Bristor, Lora Blakemore (Mike) Erxleben, and Sondra Blakemore (Ted) Festerling.  It was extremely painful for them when they lost their daughter, Lora Blakemore Erxleben, at a young age following a long battle with breast cancer.  They were also extremely devoted to their seven grandchildren, Cody and Sam Bristor, Kathryn Erxleben (Ryan) Urbanich, Michael (Savannah Waker) Erxleben, Christopher (Annabelle Arman) Erxleben, and Casey and Kyle Festerling (Kaitlyn Boettger).  They attended as many of their activities as possible, which gave them much joy.  They were also very proud of the newest addition to their family, great-granddaughter, Avery Ann Urbanich.  June also leaves behind her sister, Donna Miller Swenor, brother, Bob (Sandra Schippers) Miller, sister-in-law Bonnie Blakemore (Joe) Chattaway, brother-in-law, Douglas (Vivian Robb) Blakemore, and brother-in-law Dick (Brenda Winter) Blakemore, and many nieces and nephews. 

June was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, daughter, Lora Ann Erxleben, her mother and father, Ty and Cecil Miller, her brothers and sister-in-laws, Al (Eva Haselton) Miller, Terry (Mary LaPlant) Miller and Ty Miller, brother-in-law, Darwin “Lefty” Swenor, in-laws, James Douglas and Helen Marie Blakemore, and stepfather-in-law, Elvon Jessel. 

It took a little while for her to rejoin her great love and husband, Bill. Her family believes the power of her and Bill’s lucky day was what she was waiting for.  Their lucky day had always been Friday the 13th. It was when their love story started on their first date, Prom, held at Harbor Springs High School -Friday May 13th 1961. The number 13 showed up many times throughout their life together including having a total of 13 being added to their family between their children, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. It is felt that June held onto her life here long enough so she could dance for the first time with the love of her life on Friday February 13th in heaven where they can now both rest in peace, walking hand in hand, together again. Her combs and scissors are laying still now, but memories of June behind her spinning chairs and hair dryers will forever remain.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to June’s wonderful caregivers Heather & Shana, longtime McLaren Hospice Nurse Jessica, Hospice Personal Care Aid Susan, Hospice Chaplin Greg, and Sondra’s close friend Nancy who was always willing to step in and help care for June when Sondra or Marsha needed to be away.

The family will be holding a memorial service for June on June 27th, 2026 at a location yet to be decided and her internment at Little Traverse Township Cemetery.