June Marie McCracken

June Marie McCracken, 82, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Kootenai, Idaho.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, December 14^th, in the Laclede Community Church.  Pastor Josh Jones will be the officiant with burial following at 1:00pm in the Evergreen Cemetery in Priest River, ID.

Calling hours will be held in the Coffelt Funeral Chapel on Friday, December 13^th from 1:00pm until 4:00pm.

June Marie Bennett was born on January 18, 1937 in Princeton, New Jersey, the daughter of Bill and Dorothy (Wicoff) Bennett.  The family moved to Malibu, California when she was 8 years old where she enjoyed riding horses on the beach and hiking in the hills.  At the age of 17 she shot a 4-foot, 8-inch California Diamond Back rattlesnake, with 13 buttons.   She attended Malibu schools , graduating from high school in 1955.   In 1957 she attended cosmetology school in Santa Monica, California and worked, as a beautician, for years.  Friends, neighbors, their kids, or whoever needed it could always get a haircut.

June married her high school sweetheart, Gordon “Bob” McCracken on June 12, 1957.  They lived in California until moving to Sagle, ID in 1970, living with Bill and Lola Bennett.  They would later establish the McCracken farm in Laclede and raise their three boys Jeff, Steve and Dennis.  She was active in 4-H helping the boys with their projects.  They always had a large garden and June loved her flowers.  She was an avid photographer, winning many ribbons at the county fair.  Everything was her subject, although she loved old barns and seasonal changes.     

In 1975 June became a member of the Laclede Community Church and taught Sunday School.  She was a foster mother for many children that have kept in touch with her over the years.  She has also sponsored 4 children through Compassion International and Operation Smile for many years. 

She is survived by her brother Bill (and Lola) Bennett; her three sons Jeff, Steve and Dennis (Margo) McCracken; six grandchildren Jessica, Cody, Ashley, Erica, Brandon and Elizabeth McCracken; Also surviving is one great grandson Eli McCracken.

She was preceded in death by her parents and Gordon “Bob” McCracken.

Memorials may be made to Compassion International, 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 – 3668; or Operation Smile 3641 Facusty Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA, 23453.