BRANCH, June McPherrin Pease
The Sacramento Bee, Tuesday, October 2, 2007

July 31, 1915 to September 29, 2007

June went to be with the Lord on September 29, 2007, at the age of 92. June was born June Willmettia McPherrin in Meridian, Calif., on July 31, 1915, the second child of Ruby Taylor McPherrin and Arthur Marion McPherrin.

June had four children – three daughters and a son – with her first husband, the late Clarence Pease. The couple divorced in 1953. In 1956, June married Jim Branch, who had a young son. Jim Branch died in 1959 and June, as a single parent, raised her stepson along with her four children.

June was a straight-A student, was the girls’ tennis champion in high school and also was valedictorian of her senior class at Sutter Union High School in 1932. June was a wonderful cook and did excellent needlepoint and embroidery work. June loved to read, work crossword puzzles, and to travel. She also loved music and played the piano and violin. June lived in Sacramento for nearly 60 years. She was a long-time member of Freeport Boulevard Christian Church and later First Christian Church and sang in the church’s choir for many years.

Before her children were born, June worked as a legal secretary. After raising her children, June worked for the State of California’s Office of Emergency Services for about 10 years, retiring in December 1979. That work took her on her first airplane flight and to an earthquake disaster area.

June is survived by her daughters Sharon (Pease) Dobbins (Jim) of Fair Oaks, Marian (Pease) Del’Marmol (Bill) of Citrus Heights, and Carole Pease Sartenaer (Eric) of Berkeley, her son Arthur Pease (Francis) of Sacramento, her stepson Jerry Branch (Chris) of Folsom, 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. June also is survived by her sister Shirley Schnider, several nieces and a nephew. June was preceded in death by her brother, Marion McPherrin, who died in 1941.

In her latter years, June battled Alzheimer’s disease but she never lost her grace, humility, and lovely smile. June was a most precious person, a wonderful mother and dearly loved by her family. June forever will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her children.

June’s family wishes to thank all the wonderful and caring staff of Sunrise Assisted Living of Fair Oaks, where June lived the last two years of her life.

Friends are welcome for visitation at East Lawn Sierra Hills Memorial Park, 5757 Greenback Lane, Sacramento, on Wednesday, October 3, from 4:00-8:00 PM and to attend June’s funeral service at First Christian Church, 3901 Folsom Blvd in Sacramento on Thursday, October 4,at 11:00 AM. Burial will be private. Remembrances may be made in June’s name to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 161416, Sacramento, CA 95816-1416, the Alzheimer’s Aid Society of Northern California, P.O. Box 1824, Sacramento, CA 95812 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.