June Marie Timmons

June Marie Timmons, 94, passed away peacefully at home January 7, 2012 in Walla Walla, Washington.

She was born July 10, 1917 in Walla Walla to Darrell L. & Marie Allen Sawyer. She graduated from Brownsville, Oregon high school and attended Oregon State University. An accomplished jazz pianist, she played with a small orchestra for many dances in the Willamette Valley & at the Linn County (OR) pioneer picnics.

On August 1, 1936, she married Richard Timmons in Walla Walla. They owned & operated “Dick’s Café” on the corner of Second & Main from 1941 to 1952, then opened & operated “The Turf” restaurant in the same building until selling it in 1975. Mr. Timmons passed away in 1981.

She was a gracious hostess & fixed her signature delicious meals for family gatherings. In the 1970’s, June began making appliquéd & pieced quilts. Each one took countless hours to hand-quilt. It was not unusual for her to spend ten hours a day quilting during the long winters. Many of her quilts, owned by appreciative family members, have been shown in local quilt shows. She spent several years quilting with the original Fort Walla Walla Quilters. She was a member of the Pioneer & Historical Society and volunteered at the Ft. Walla Walla Museum for a number of years. She was a member of a Pinochle club and a sewing club for over 50 years.

An amateur artist, many of her oil paintings is admired in the homes of family members. In 1976, she painted the outstandingly beautiful backdrop scene of the Alps for the Walla Walla Little Theater’s production of The Sound of Music.

June is survived by her 3 daughters, Susan Queen (Troy) of College Place, Judith Blocklinger (Ronald) of Walla Walla, and Nancy Jarmain (Glenn) of Reedsport, OR; 9 grandchildren: Kathy Queen Shoemaker (Mark) of College Place, Richard Queen (Jolene) of Walla Walla, Ronald Queen (Linda) of Arlington, WA, Terry Jarmain (Sandra) of Harrisburg, OR, Stuart Jarmain (Laurie) of Reedsport, John Jarmain (Kristin) of Horicon, WI, Darren Blocklinger of Pacific, WA, Kristi Blocklinger Moore (Rob) of Seattle and David Blocklinger (Marie) of Walla Walla; 14 great grandchildren; 9 great great grandchildren; 2 nieces, 1 nephew and 2 cousins. She was preceded in death by a sister, Darl Bjorklund of Everett, WA and a brother, Leo Sawyer of Milton Freewater, OR.

A private graveside service will be held on Friday, January 13, 2012 at Mountain View Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.