Desert Messenger

14 www.DesertMessenger.com July 13, 2016 By Joanne Winer Over a hundred people came out to celebrate the 100th birthday of local long time Quartzsite resident June Erickson. Family and friends gathered at the Quartzsite Senior Citizens Center on Moon Mountain Road to hon- or recent great-grandmother Erickson, who has spent many years here in Quartzsite and made a big difference in this town as a volunteer. June Erickson turns 100 years! ������ | S������ RAIN B���C�� June was a single mother of three who raised her children alone for eight years. She worked as many jobs as she could – anything it took to keep her family going. She even- tually met and married Eric Erick- son and, together, they came to Quartzsite to find some rocks and minerals. They played beautiful mu- sic together in a band called the Hi Jolly Merry Music Makers, with Eric playing the fiddle and she playing the drums. They played for several years at the Q.I.A. twice a week. June volunteer all around town. She helped get the first Firefighter's Thrift Shop going behind what is now the La Mesa RV lot. She used to go to yard sales all over the country and buy things to put away to sell at other yard sales. Some of her best times were playing music and go- ing rock hunting with her husband. They used to hold the rock club meetings at their house, as well as jam sessions with local musicians. They used to laugh that there was no car in their garage because the one in Quartzsite was filled when they had potlucks and card playing; while in Des Moines it was filled with lapidary equipment. Some of the things that June liked to collect were rocks, stamps, ironwood, fabrics, dolls, beads and cardboard boxes and grocery bags for yard sales. She loves to talk with her grandchildren and other family members about riding a motorcycle and playing in the band, and always loves to talk about the old days when she lived in West Seattle where she grew up. Family members talked about their visits to a cabin she had and how they loved to spend time with her. They all said she was a very loving mother and did the best she could for anyone at any time. June had three children – daugh- ters Ann and Lynn and a son Jack, who predeceased her. Daughter Ann married Jerry Requa and has four children: Stacy Decker (married to Devon and mother to Ben), Beau and Bree; her son John Requa married Mimi and had a son Rome, her other son Jay and wife Cynthia had two daughters Brittany and Sarah, and a son Troy, and their daughter Brittany just gave birth to Troy Jr. – the first great-great grandchild, and another daughter Sandy McCarthy married to husband Jim (no children). June's other daughter Lynn and her husband Larry live in Quartzsite. Their children include Phillip (wife Linda, no children), Diana (no children), Jessie – husband Darius Zangneh have 5 children – Aaron, Maia, Joshua, Caleb and Levi. The 4th child is son Jonathon (wife, Brie) Cushman, who also lives in Quartzsite. Larry's mother Maude Burdette, sister Pam Cushman and Darius' father Shapur also came to town for the party. Many local friends were also in attendance. Organizers of the par- ty would like to thank Jill Hagar who made the cake, Taco Mio for catering the food, KBUX radio, Quartzsite Times and Desert Mes- senger, and especially all the help- ers who put up the decorations and helped get the party ready. He also thanked Paul Winer who wrote a song especially for her called 100- year smile blues, and his friends Stave Hohstadt and Ralph Martin for entertaining the crowd during the celebration. June received a letter from the White House signed by President Obama honoring her for all her years. It was a great celebration full of love and best wishes for this remarkable woman who gave so much.

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