DOVER-FOXCROFT – June Austin Bucknam, 85, joined her loved ones Oct. 25, 2010, after a long illness. She died peacefully at Hibbard Nursing Home, having resided there for nearly two years. She was born Nov. 23, 1924, the first child of Jasper and Violet (Towne) Austin. June graduated from Foxcroft Academy in 1943. That same year she entered the Nurses’ Military Cadet Corps at Eastern Maine General Hospital, now Eastern Maine Medical Center, to start her nurse’s training. When World War II ended, the Cadet Corps was discontinued. June completed her education at the University of Maine, Orono, and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree, having achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average in her studies. As a military wife she moved frequently and was involved in various jobs and creative activities, from breeding collie dogs to making neckties with her own drawing of Maine deer. She was an elementary school teacher for eight years prior to her retirement. Her legacy will be her creative writing. Her masterfully crafted poetry, some of which has been published, evokes images and emotions that leave enduring impressions with the reader. June is survived by a son, Daniel Meade III and his wife, Wendy, of Norridgewock; and three grandchildren, Daniel IV and his wife, Winnie, Jonathan, and Sarah Wood and her husband, Andrew. She has five great-grandchildren, Caleb, Elinor, Benjamin, Madeline and Elyn. Hope Lacourciere of Dover-Foxcroft is her only surviving sibling. She was predeceased by a son, Ronald Meade; her mom and dad; sisters, Faith Holland and Bertha Gallant; and brothers, Dwane Austin and two baby boys. A memorial service will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft, with the Rev. Dr. Margaret Sheffield officiating. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Hibbard Nursing Home Activity Fund, P.O. Box 159, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426. Messages of condolence and memories may be expressed at www.laryfuneralhome.com.
JUNE AUSTIN BUCKNAM
