Barbara June Caruthers

Barbara June McKee Caruthers was born in Fairview, Oklahoma on June 13, 1946, to Nile and Estella Bouse McKee and went to be with her Heavenly Father on October 13, 2023, at the age of 77.  Being the only girl with four brothers helped prepare her to fight a courageous battle with cancer.
 
Her earliest education was at Union School, a rural one-room schoolhouse west of Fairview. Starting in the eighth grade, she attended Fairview Public Schools, graduating in 1964. She went on to continue her education at NWOSU, where she met the love of her life.
 
June and Dick Caruthers were united in marriage in 1966.  To this union four girls were born, Janet, Andrea, Julie, and Carrie.  They raised their family in Cherokee where the most important job, to June, was raising her family and taking care of their home. She grew up a faithful member of the Midway Assembly of God Church in Fairview, and later attended Cherokee First United Methodist Church.
 
June is survived by her husband of 57 years, Dick Caruthers; three children, Janet Hester and husband, Chad of Cherokee, Andrea Hamm and husband, Tom of Enid, Carrie Dugger and husband DJ of Springtown, Texas; five grandchildren, Connor, Raegan and Karsten Hester, Kenedy Hamm and Avery Dugger; brothers, Allen McKee and Steve McKee and wife, Debbie of Fairview and Rick Caruthers of Enid, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
 
She is preceded in death by her daughter, Julie Ann; her parents, Nile and Estella McKee; two brothers, George McKee and Billy McKee, and two sisters-in-law, Sherry McKee and Renee Caruthers.
 
June’s grandchildren were the greatest joy of her life. She had a special relationship with each of them, calling them daily just to check in.  She loved spending time on her farm west of Fairview.  She said it always felt like home to her. She loved shopping and traveling the world with her husband and beloved friends, otherwise known to her family as “the Posse”.
 
Memorials may be made to the Caruthers Family Memorial Scholarship Fund through Lanman Funeral Home. Funds from this scholarship will be given to students who are interested in pursuing a trade.
 
Celebration of Life Service for June will be Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. at First Christian Church in Cherokee.  Burial will be in Cherokee Municipal Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Cherokee.  On Monday, October 16, 2023, there will be visitation with family present at the funeral home 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  www.lanmanfuneralhome.com  Facebook:  Lanman Funeral Home Inc.