October 13, 1932- March 24, 2025
June Elizabeth (Doran) Bowlby was born at home on the west end of Sekiu, Washington. She drew her last breath and died peacefully of heart failure at home on the Pysht River as she wished, with her family present. June, with her hardy “fighting” Irish soul, was born to Fern Annetta (Pease) Doran and Earl Francis “Bill” Doran.
She joined her brothers Earl Jr. and Robert and after a year the family moved to a place on the Sekiu River that was accessible only by rowboat. By the time June started school at the age of 5, the family had returned to a “company” house on the east end of Sekiu where her dad was “boom boss”.
She attended the Sekiu school through second grade and developed an affinity for the place and the people that stayed with her for life. June finished her Clallam Bay schooling, but not without lessons from every piano teacher who came through town. She ended up accompanying the orchestra and choirs and graduated in 1950. She went to WSC for a semester, leaving there at the same time as her old friend and bandmate Bob Bowlby.
She came home to marry her fiancée and he to heal an ankle broken while training for a South American expedition. Short story: farewell to the fiancée and farewell to the search for Montezuma’s lost gold. June Doran and Robert Bowlby were married in the Clallam Bay School auditorium September 7, 1951.
June began her working life as a “flunky” in the company cookhouse and clerking at the Sekiu store. She continued to work there for a time after her marriage. The arrival of two children and the anticipation of two more prompted a move to Bob’s childhood home on the Pysht River, where, for all but a year and a half, they spent the remainder of their lives.
They traveled to almost all corners of the earth with the Port Angeles Symphony, always returning with so many photos, memories, stories, treasures and new friends. June was an iconic ’50s and ’60s mom, canning rooms full of fruits, vegetables, meats and tuna to feed her yammering bird-mouth kids and husband with not so bird-sized appetites.
She even made raspberry wine (for the adults, of course) with quite memorable success. June’s well-worn electric sewing machine and the old White treadle were put away in the mid-’60s in favor of the Sears or Ward’s catalog and more frequent trips to the J. C. Penney store in Port Angeles.
She had turned bolts of fabric into kids’ clothing, pj’s, doll clothes, costumes and curtains. Pets always occupied a large space in June’s life, most recently her Siamese brothers Quinn and Finnbar. June was extremely creative and put that talent to work as she became campfire leader, scout den mother and school room mother. She was known as a master of arranging wildflower bouquets for all occasions.
June always found time for her “Book of the Month” even if only for a few minutes as she sat on the gravel bar tending swimming kids who would later grow up to value books and reading as she did. After her kids were relatively self-sufficient, June turned her artistic creativity almost exclusively toward oil and watercolor painting. Early on, if there happened to be an art class or organization or art show from the Hoh to Sequim, she was in it.
She was a founder of the Messy Palettes art group in Sekiu and met weekly to paint in the company of her friends until she was physically not able. She was a prolific painter and entered her last Sekiu Fun Days Art Show at the age of 91. Her sense of composition was unbeatable. June was a poll worker, a Red Hat and TOPS member.
She was on the board of the Friends of Hoko River State Park, Clallam Bay Friends of the Library, West End Youth and Community Club, Clallam County Historical Society for a term, and Straitside Scribes, a writing group who published stories from their lives in STRAIGHT TALES for 14 years in the 2000’s. June was always engaged, doing and planning. She gave herself a break in later years by taking herself upstairs every night at 8 sharp for a movie before turning in.
Unforgettably, June’s love for her family was first in her life. There was always a greeting and warm welcome to meet. June’s faithful service to the civil and social fabric of her community inspired many. She encouraged others to show up and participate.
Surviving June are her brother, Robert Doran; daughters Kim Bowlby and Karen (Scott) Nangle; son Paul Bowlby; daughter-in-law Eddie Bowlby; grandchildren Lincoln (Katie), Thomas and Emma (Rick) Erickson; Malia (David) Trick, Enoch, Annan, Tyler (Meghan), Taran (Kimiyo) Bowlby; great grandchildren Avery and Ricky Whaley; Mark, Lillyan and Elianna Trick; Charles and Huckleberry.
Preceding her in death were her husband Bob and son Mark Bowlby; grandson Weste Erickson; brother Earl Doran. A memorial celebration will take place Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Old Sekiu School, 11 Rice St. with a late lunch served. Contributions in June’s memory may be made to the West End Youth and Community Club P.O. Box 21, Sekiu, WA 98381.
June appreciated and her family wishes to thank OMC Home Health and Nurse Josh Williams and NOHN lab and Dr. Jessica DiBari for their care beyond compare.
