June Johnson Higley Neaman, our Mom, passed away on March 7, 2022, surrounded by family. What a reunion it must have been when she arrived in heaven. I imagine the love and joy that embraced her by her generations of family and friends after a life well lived.
“Everyone that knew June loved her”, said her life-long friend Clara Tillotson. “Grandma was the perfect example of unconditional love”, was the consensus of her grandchildren who were there to say farewell.
Mom was born on June 24, 1937, to John Jacob Johnson and Henrietta Bott in Brigham City, UT. Her mother died when she was just seven months old, so she was raised mostly by her grandmother Ada Johnson.
She attended schools in Brigham City where she was always an honor student.
She married Guy Higley on Dec. 19, 1952. They had 42 years together and raised five great children: Ben, John, Julia, Dan, and Paul.
They lived in Mantua, Utah, where they were active in the LDS Church. Mom served in many callings in all the auxiliary organizations. She loved people. She was always welcoming and kind to everyone. Mom was always by my Dad’s side and they went on many adventures while supporting their dreams.
Their world turned upside down and they divorced in 1991.
Mom moved to St. George and worked with her sister Jackie as a leasing agent for an apartment complex for a couple of years. While in St. George, she was called to serve an LDS mission to Washington DC in the Church office of international affairs, where she worked with several foreign dignitaries regarding the missionary efforts abroad.
While on her mission, she and Charles Neaman started corresponding. Not long after her return home, Charles and Mom were married on Jan 8, 2000. They lived in Sandy, Utah. They had a very great marriage traveling around the world. They visited Africa, several trips to Europe, Hawaii, and several other states. They lived in New York City for about a year and a half while Charles worked on a project for his daughter. Mom loved this segment of her life. She loved the Neaman family and they loved her.
Charles passed away November 9, 2011.
June moved to Perry, Utah, in 2012 to be closer to her children and Grandchildren. She worked in the Brigham City LDS temple for a few years. She enjoyed her service there.
Mom had many great friends. Her dear friend John Massaro has been so thoughtful and kind. They loved to get together to go on walks and hikes and have dinner. Who gets to have a boyfriend when they’re in their 80’s? Our mom did, and she loved every minute she spent with John.
For the past seven months Mom has lived at the Beehive Memory Care Assisted Living. While there she has enjoyed the companionship’s of old friends and met new friends. The nurses and CNA’s there have been so wonderful.
Eleven days ago, after a period of feeling ill mom was diagnosed with stage four cancer of the pancreas and liver. We are grateful she could go rapidly with such tender loving care. We are grateful to our brother Dan, Ally’s Angels, Beehive Homes of Perry for taking care of mom.
She is survived by her children: John and Sally Higley, Julia and Kevin Johnson, Dan and Marchelle Higley, Paul and Kari Higley, and Gloria Higley, Ben’s wife; 23 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Charles Neaman; her son: Ben Higley; her grandchildren: Angela Christensen, Annie Christensen, Michael Higley, Amanda Higley; and her sister: Jackie Elder.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Perry 8th Ward, 685 Davis St. Perry, UT.
Viewings will be held the night before on Friday, March 11, 2022, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Myers Mortuary, 205 South 100 East, Brigham City, UT, and prior to the service on Saturday at the church house from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Interment will be at the Mantua Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.myers-mortuary.com.