June Annette (Rockwell-Avery) Marks, 92, of Niles passed away Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers.

She was born June 29, 1917 at Corey (Harwood Lake) near Three Rivers to the late Clive B. and Edith (Rifenberg) Rockwell.

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 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.

June was married to Otis Avery of Jones, Mich. on Nov. 20, 1941; he died July 30, 1944 in World War II. She married Neal J. Marks of Kalamazoo on Sept. 6, 1947; he died 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, Mich. and Ada Follis of Portage, Mich.; three children, Loralee Avery (Glen) Knepper of Mendon, John R. (Susan) Marks of Elkhart and Kenneth C. Marks of Niles; grandchildren, Karen Knepper Warner of Three Rivers, Rob (Traci) Knepper of Constantine, Jessica (Jason) White of Elkhart and Peter (Kristin) Caroselli of Mattawan; six great-grandchildren, Trenna Knepper, Whitney Perkins, Branden Perkins, Lauren White, Anno Caroselli and Dominic Caroselli.
Cremation has been conducted. A memorial service will be announced later by the Eickhoff, Farrand, Halverson Chapel of Three Rivers, (269) 278-1515.

Memorials may be directed to the Niles Community Library or to the Animal Rescue Fund of St. Joseph County, MI at P.O. Box 593, Centreville, MI 49032.

An online register is available at www.efhchapel.com.