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June Annette (Rockwell-Avery) Marks, 92, of Niles, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers. She was born on June 29, 1917 at Corey (Harwood Lake) near Three Rivers to the late Clive B. and Edith (Rifenberg) Rockwell.
June was married to Otis Avery of Jones on Nov. 20, 1941; he died July 30, 1944 in World War II. She married Neal J. Marks of Kalamazoo on Sep. 6, 1947; he passed away on Nov. 13, 1977. She was also preceded in death by brothers Dean L. Rockwell of Ypsilanti and Darrell Rockwell of Three Rivers.
June is survived by two sisters, Joyce Sucaet of Warren and Ada Follis of Portage; her three children, Loralee Avery (Glen) Knepper of Mendon, John R. (Susan) Marks of Elkhart and Kenneth C. Marks of Niles; grandchildren include Karen Knepper Warner of Three Rivers, Rob (Traci) Knepper of Constantine, Jessica (Jason) White of Elkhart, Ind., Peter (Kristin) Caroselli of Mattawan; six great-grandchildren, Trenna Knepper, Whitney Perkins, Branden Perkins, Lauren White, Anna Caroselli and Dominic Caroselli.
In 2002, June was selected as one of five ladies to be honored as a “Michigan Mother of the Year.” She was feted with a banquet, a tour of the Michigan capitol, and participated in the Michigan Day Parade in Lansing. She loved her family, flowers, felines, and the flag. She had been a secretary and had published the “Rockwell Family Newsletter” since 1982. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Niles and a Life Member of the VFW Auxiliary. Memorials may be directed to the Niles Community Library, or to Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County, MI at P.O. Box 593, Centreville, MI 49032.
Cremation has been conducted. A memorial service will be announced later by the Eickhoff, Farrand, Halverson Chapel of Three Rivers. 278-1515. An online register is available at www.efhchapel.com.
