June A. Bird

June A. Bird was a woman of great character and strength who worked hard throughout her life, but fostered a great spirit of love, faith and compassion too. Whether she was working in the kitchen, raising her children, practicing her faith or entertaining friends and family, June put her heart into all that she did. With faith as her guide, she persevered through trials that came her way, always remaining true to the joy that was in her heart. The year was 1924 and Calvin Coolidge had assumed the presidency after the death of President Harding. Prohibition laws were creating legends out of gangsters and bootleggers and J. Edgar Hoover became the head of the FBI. The Charleston dance craze set the tempo for what would come to be known as the Roaring 20s. On October 7, 1924, in Nunica, Michigan, little June Alva arrived into the world to proud parents, Paul and Etta (Brooks) Moore. She was the second of six children. Gordan, June, Robert, Pauline, Allen and Jim. While Etta had her hands full raising six children, Paul earned a living as an auto mechanic. June attended the one room schoolhouse in Nunica. She was athletic, and spent much of her leisure time in the kitchen, learning to decorate cakes, a knack she enjoyed doing all her life. Junes life took a new direction when she met Basil Bird, Sr. at a taffy pulling party, and they fell in love. At the young age of 16, she married Basil on October 12, 1940. June devoted herself to the role of a wife, and in time, the mother of five Robert, Basil Jr., Iris, Wendy and Julie. She later went back to school and earned her GED (1972). In 1944, her husband Basil followed the same patriotic calling of other young men of the time, and enlisted in the U.S. Army, proudly serving his country during World War II. After he returned home from the war, Basil went to work at Motor Specialties before taking a job with General Telephone in 1946. It was easy to see that June considered it great joy to care for her husband and children. She was active in the lives of her children, and even teaching Robert to play the piano. In 1954, the Birds moved to a new house on Sheridan Drive, and June created a home for her family that was a place where love was plentiful. She loved cooking and baking for her family; some of her specialties included her potato salad and banana cake. Traditionally, every New Years Eve, June, Basil, Lorene and her husband, Lewis would get together to feast on some of her fabulous oyster stew and black eyed peas. Being in the kitchen was truly Junes favorite place to be. She knew the way to peoples hearts was through their stomachs, and no one ever left her house hungry. Quite creative, June honed her skills at cake decorating at a young age, and became quite an expert. She didnt just do things, however, she did them to perfection. She was meticulous with every task she undertook; this included being frugal with their household money by cutting out coupons. Later on, June found great joy in teaching a cake decorating class at the Fruitport Adult Education Classes. For June, family was the greatest source of happiness in her life. She looked forward to all their family gatherings for holidays and special occasions, and every year, they spent a week at Silver Lake, enjoying the sun and water. At home, June enjoyed the company of her Blue Point Siamese named Lady. Church was also very important to June, and she was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Spring Lake. Devout in her faith, June began her day by reading her Bible and Daily Bread. She looked forward to the Widows Mite group each month, especially enjoying the decorating of their breakfast table. She also attended the monthly hymn sing at Bethel Baptist Church. June enjoyed getting together with her special church friends, Ginny and Bernice, and the Barbiers who were lifelong friends. In 2004, June lost her beloved husband Basil after 64 years together. Then, in 2011, her health began to decline and just recently she fell and broke her hip. After only 2 days under hospice care, June passed away on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at the age of 87. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. June is survived by her sons, Robert (Joyce) Bird of Muskegon, Basil Jr. (Linda) Bird of Rothbury; daughters, Iris (George) Stuart of WV, Wendy Bird of Muskegon, Julie (Bill) Turpin of Fruitport; 13 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren; brother, Jim (Joyce) Moore of Jenison, MI; sister, Pauline Shears of Spring Lake; and many nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Basil; granddaughter, Diane; and 3 brothers. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 1, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Spring Lake with Pastor Doug Bytwerk officiating. Interment at Fruitport Cemetery. Visitation is on Tuesday, July 31, from 6-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home Fruitport, and Wednesday, 1 hour prior to the service at First Baptist Church of Spring Lake. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Spring Lake or Muskegon Harbor Hospice. Please visit Junes personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a memory or photo and sign her online guest book.