June Clark Mingee, widow of Raymond Ellis Mingee, Jr., passed away at home on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 4:04 AM after a lengthy illness. She is survived by her daughters Susan Catherine Mingee of Hampton and Amelia Ann Dick and her husband, George Edwin Dick of Smithfield.
June had an extraordinary life traveling all over this amazing and beautiful world. She sailed on many cruises and her favorite cruise line was Cunard. She and Ray were frequent passengers on the Queen Elizabeth II and sailed on the maiden voyage of the new Queen Mary II. Together they flew on the British Airways Super Sonic Concorde several times and she even talked one of the flight attendants out of his Concorde pin that was part of his uniform before landing.
She and Daddy traveled extensively in the United States including Alaska and Hawaii and also to the many tropical islands of the Caribbean and South Pacific. She commented that Bora Bora in French Polynesia was the most beautiful island she had ever seen. Other countries they visited together were Canada, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. She even traveled alone with a tour group to see Israel, Egypt and Jordan and traveled solo on a photo safari trip to Kenya, Africa where she fell in love with the people she met and the animals she saw. June was happiest when she was traveling and not being physically able to do this was an overwhelming sadness for her in later years.
June's other interests included a great love for photography, gardening, flowers and nature. Her heart was full of compassion for all the animals in the world that suffer at the hands of man. She was proficient playing the piano, as well as the church pipe organ and owned a Hammond organ she would play in her home. June was also keenly interested in sports. She followed the career of baseball great Willie Mays. Her favorite football teams were the University of Alabama's The Crimson Tide and the Washington Redskins. She delighted in her success at picking the weekly winning pro-football teams and having her name printed in the Daily Press newspaper. And, above all, she loved watching "her boy" NASCAR's Dale Jr.
Her daughters want to express their loving thanks to June's cousin, Jane Seyffert Sayer, for the weekly phone calls that lifted momma's spirits and connected her with family past and present. She loved you so very much. The family also wants to thank Trevoe Alston for sitting with her "June Bug" so Susan could leave care giving responsibilities behind for several hours each Thursday. Your love and dedicated care for momma will never be forgotten and will always be greatly appreciated. Your visits made her long and lonely days more bearable.
Arrangements are being provided to the family by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home. Out of the great respect we share for our mother we abide by her wishes and there will be no visitation or funeral service. Those desiring to remember June, in lieu of flowers or food, may send contributions to the Buckroe Volunteer Fire Department, C/O Sidney Pearce, 2412 East Pembroke Avenue, Hampton, Virginia 23664. Your assistance over the years to June and the family is very much appreciated and we are grateful to each of you. All shifts involved, no matter what time of the day or night, always greeted us with cheerful smiles, kindness and compassion. Donations can also be made to the SPCA, C/O Anne Carstens, 523 J. Clyde Morris Blvd, Newport News, VA 23601 to help provide for those animals who wait for a loving forever home.
We will always love and miss our mother but, we are grateful that she is finally at peace and released from her earthly pain and sorrows. She always said that one day she will "earn her wings". Momma we wish this joy for you. It is our desire for her to continue her love of travelling and Amy will take ashes to be scattered at beautiful places and exotic destinations on her future trips. She would love this.
Being a cloud is quite unique,
I see the world without having feet.
Floating high up in the air
with never a worry-never a care!
The landscape below is fresh and new
we hope you always have this view..........