Celebration of Life
Home of June Smalley
Kerrville, TX
Friday, October 27, 2023
6:00 PM
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
1520 Harry Wurzbach
San Antonio, TX
78209
Map & Directions
of Kerrville, TX
May 10, 1928 - August 24, 2023
- Obituary
- Guestbook
June was born May 10, 1928 in Sabetha, Kansas, one of seven children born to William Martin Ross and Sarah L'Nora Ross. Growing up in a Kansas farming family during the Great Depression taught her the importance of hard work, frugality and determination and she stressed these values to her children and grandchildren throughout her life.
After graduation from Sabetha High School, she enrolled at the University of Kansas where she met her future husband, Dean Smalley. June and Dean were married on January 10, 1948, the beginning of a 54-year marriage until Dean's death in 2002.
She married her second husband, Ed Williamson, in 2005 and they were married for 15 years until Ed's death in 2020.
June loved music and was an accomplished piano player. She was self-taught, played by ear and did not read music: if you could sing or hum a song, she could play it. She hosted countless music parties in her home over the years and started playing a weekly gig at The Keyboard Lounge, an Atlanta jazz bar. June cut a record album, ''The June Smalley Quintet Swings America'' in 1980 backed by her favorite Keyboard Lounge musicians.
She was active until the end and hosted a monthly jam session with her Kerrville musician friends; she loved making music with them.
June will be buried with her husband Dean on Friday October 27th in the military cemetery at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, attended by her family. A Celebration of Life event will be held at her Kerrville home that evening at 6pm, attended by friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to: THMF- The Music Connection, PO BOX 2435, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 or online at www.texasheritagemusic.org.
The Music Connection provides music therapy to thousands of individuals living in long-term residential care facilities.
The Smalley family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. James Young and the caring staff at Peterson Hospice, the amazing staff at Peterson Hospital, June's kind and fun Summit neighbors, her talented musician friends who kept her playing and, especially, Anne Bertasz who provided loving care and made June LAUGH.
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4 Condolence(s)
Rosalie Pinson
Kerrville, TX
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
June’s a talented musician who shared her joy from music with neighbors, and with many folks at Dietert Senior Center
connie sullivan
kerrville, TX
Saturday, September 2, 2023
What a blessed soul and neighbor!
Laura Davis
Center Point, TX
Monday, August 28, 2023
Such a talented and precious Lady, such a treasure!
Craig Davis
Kerrville, TX
Friday, August 25, 2023
We are going to miss her so much.
We were lucky to know her for almost two years.
Love you June.