The youngest of five daughters and the next to the youngest of seven children, June was born and raised in the hollow known as Doc's Branch at Haddock Fork, growing up during the depression. This is the Grapevine Creek section of Perry County in eastern Kentucky, about 12 miles northwest of Hazard. She and her siblings were born at home with their birth records listing them as born in Boat, KY. She attended local schools, including high school at Witherspoon in Buckhorn, KY.
On February 18, 1946, she married Oscar Combs, who also grew up on Grapevine. Their first child, Phyllis was born on June 8, 1947 in a Blue Diamond Coal camp.
Sometime around 1950, after their daughter experienced a bout with Rheumatic fever, they left Kentucky with their young family in search of a better life. They first went to Jacksonville, Florida where her sister, Boots was living with her husband who had served in the Navy during WWII. Here, Oscar found work in the shipyards, however, they were not comfortable living so far from the rest of their family. Afterwards, they moved to Cincinnati where their son was born.
Unfortunately, the marriage ended and June moved back to Florida in 1959 to where her sister was now living at Kingsley Lake. She found work as a seamstress at Big Dad and after a few months, she had saved enough money to get a place of her own. In 1963, she remarried to John H. Gill and lived the rest of her life in their home on Kingsley Lake.
Devoted to her family and friends, she worked hard to make a good home for her family and loved to entertain her friends and extended family. She was an excellent cook and always provided plenty of food. With the help of her sister, who shared in the bounty, she also canned or froze massive amounts of her own food that her retired husband grew himself.
On February 18, 1946, she married Oscar Combs, who also grew up on Grapevine. Their first child, Phyllis was born on June 8, 1947 in a Blue Diamond Coal camp.
Sometime around 1950, after their daughter experienced a bout with Rheumatic fever, they left Kentucky with their young family in search of a better life. They first went to Jacksonville, Florida where her sister, Boots was living with her husband who had served in the Navy during WWII. Here, Oscar found work in the shipyards, however, they were not comfortable living so far from the rest of their family. Afterwards, they moved to Cincinnati where their son was born.
Unfortunately, the marriage ended and June moved back to Florida in 1959 to where her sister was now living at Kingsley Lake. She found work as a seamstress at Big Dad and after a few months, she had saved enough money to get a place of her own. In 1963, she remarried to John H. Gill and lived the rest of her life in their home on Kingsley Lake.
Devoted to her family and friends, she worked hard to make a good home for her family and loved to entertain her friends and extended family. She was an excellent cook and always provided plenty of food. With the help of her sister, who shared in the bounty, she also canned or froze massive amounts of her own food that her retired husband grew himself.
The youngest of five daughters and the next to the youngest of seven children, June was born and raised in the hollow known as Doc's Branch at Haddock Fork, growing up during the depression. This is the Grapevine Creek section of Perry County in eastern Kentucky, about 12 miles northwest of Hazard. She and her siblings were born at home with their birth records listing them as born in Boat, KY. She attended local schools, including high school at Witherspoon in Buckhorn, KY.
On February 18, 1946, she married Oscar Combs, who also grew up on Grapevine. Their first child, Phyllis was born on June 8, 1947 in a Blue Diamond Coal camp.
Sometime around 1950, after their daughter experienced a bout with Rheumatic fever, they left Kentucky with their young family in search of a better life. They first went to Jacksonville, Florida where her sister, Boots was living with her husband who had served in the Navy during WWII. Here, Oscar found work in the shipyards, however, they were not comfortable living so far from the rest of their family. Afterwards, they moved to Cincinnati where their son was born.
Unfortunately, the marriage ended and June moved back to Florida in 1959 to where her sister was now living at Kingsley Lake. She found work as a seamstress at Big Dad and after a few months, she had saved enough money to get a place of her own. In 1963, she remarried to John H. Gill and lived the rest of her life in their home on Kingsley Lake.
Devoted to her family and friends, she worked hard to make a good home for her family and loved to entertain her friends and extended family. She was an excellent cook and always provided plenty of food. With the help of her sister, who shared in the bounty, she also canned or froze massive amounts of her own food that her retired husband grew himself.
On February 18, 1946, she married Oscar Combs, who also grew up on Grapevine. Their first child, Phyllis was born on June 8, 1947 in a Blue Diamond Coal camp.
Sometime around 1950, after their daughter experienced a bout with Rheumatic fever, they left Kentucky with their young family in search of a better life. They first went to Jacksonville, Florida where her sister, Boots was living with her husband who had served in the Navy during WWII. Here, Oscar found work in the shipyards, however, they were not comfortable living so far from the rest of their family. Afterwards, they moved to Cincinnati where their son was born.
Unfortunately, the marriage ended and June moved back to Florida in 1959 to where her sister was now living at Kingsley Lake. She found work as a seamstress at Big Dad and after a few months, she had saved enough money to get a place of her own. In 1963, she remarried to John H. Gill and lived the rest of her life in their home on Kingsley Lake.
Devoted to her family and friends, she worked hard to make a good home for her family and loved to entertain her friends and extended family. She was an excellent cook and always provided plenty of food. With the help of her sister, who shared in the bounty, she also canned or froze massive amounts of her own food that her retired husband grew himself.
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Gravesite Details
The grave beside hers is reserved for her eldest grandchild, Bud Anthony Thomas
