June Griffin Gary

June Griffin Gary passed away at the home of her son, Michael Gary, on Saturday, August 22, 2020 after an extended illness. She was 96 years old. June was born on February 21, 1924, at her parent's home in Yolande, AL, a turn-of-the-century coal-mining community in east Tuscaloosa County. She graduated from Brookwood High School in 1942, then attended Alverson Draughon Business College, after which she worked at the Federal Courthouse in Birmingham. She only stayed there a few months before landing a much higher-paying position at Bechtel-McCone-Parsons, which had just opened a facility at the Birmingham Municipal Airport. The company was a military contractor, which aided the war effort by retrofitting B-29's and other aircraft to military specifications. Because June was so taken by the multitude of compelling activities the "Magic City" had to offer, she talked her parents into moving to Birmingham's Southside, and her father went to work at Bechtel as well. After the war, because men were returning and taking over the industrial jobs women had performed in their absence, June left Bechtel and accepted a job at First National Bank (John A. Hand building) in the back office. While working at the bank, she rekindled a relationship with her childhood sweetheart, Talmadge Gary, who had recently returned from the war and looked her up. A few months later they were married and remained so until Talmadge's death in 2009. She raised four boys and pampered her grandchildren, to whom she was affectionately known as Mema. She also had a lifelong passion for square dancing which she and Talmadge participated in for thirty years. In later years she became an avid Bridge player. She played well into her nineties but finally had to give up the game due to failing eyesight. June was preceded in death by her husband, Talmadge Burton Gary, her parents, Clarence Lester Griffin and Maude Shattuck Griffin, her brother, Douglas (Billie Leigh Turner Griffin-deceased) and brother, Rodney (Carolyn Welch Griffin-deceased). She was survived by her four sons, Michael, (Paulette Finocchio Gray), Joel (Peggy Shattuck - deceased), Dennis (Rita Beck Gary), and Brian (Lisa Bucklin Gary); grandchildren, Jeffrey (Stephanie Gottschalk Gary), Mistye (Kenneth Edwards), Sarah (Micah Autry), Malissa (Adam Stritikus), Carson (Elizabeth Gary), Paul, Lindsey, Ian and Colin; great grandchildren, Carmen, Theo, Kyah, Elizabeth, Elijah, Samuel, Brittany, Beau, Vanna and Alec. There will be a brief graveside service officiated by The Reverend, Crant Hicks, at Highland Memorial Gardens (3115 18th Avenue North, Bessemer, AL) on Wednesday morning, August 26, 2020 at 11:00 a.m., followed by an informal gathering indoors to remember June. In lieu of flowers you may at your discretion make a donation to one of June's Favorite Charities: Jimmie Hale Mission, online or mailed to P.O. Box 10472, Birmingham, AL 35202 St. Jude Hospital, online or mailed to 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 Jessie's Place, online or mailed to 2305 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203

June Griffin Gary

February 21, 1924 - August 22, 2020