June A. Cornelison, of Chehalis, Washington, took God's hand to begin her eternal life on Jan 28, 2025.
She was born to William and Margaret Ralston in Lamar, Colorado, on May 13, 1937.
She retired as chief investigator of the public defenders office of Riverside County, California. She moved to Sedona, Arizona, and fell in love with the natural beauty. She was Sedona's inaugural mayor, also being reelected as the third mayor from 1990 to 1992. She helped fight fiercely for the preservation of the beauty of Sedona. She is responsible for the only turquoise arches in the country at the McDonalds restaurant. She also helped Sedona remain a star-friendly city without an abundance of light pollution. She helped fight the highway department’s plan to bring a four-lane highway through the Village of Oak Creek coming into the city of Sedona.
She was an accomplished writer with two published books and a third that was self-published. June was a champion for justice and a steward of the land. The beauty of her work can still be seen in Sedona today.
June was preceded in death by her son, William Sicard; her sister, Nancy Seger; and her husband, Gene Cornelison. She leaves behind her daughter, Denise Yearian (James); her sons, Richard Sicard (Karen), Donald Sicard (Brandi) and Michael Sicard; her stepdaughters, Heather Clever and Windee Ferguson; 16 grandchildren; 14-plus great-grandchildren; and numerous friends.
A mass will be held at 11 a.m. March 21, 2025, at St. Francis Xavier Mission in Toledo, Washington, with a celebration of life to follow.
June will be laid to rest on May 12, 2025, in Sedona, Arizona, following a mass and celebration of life at St. John Vianney Church.
June's family invites all to join them at either service to celebrate June's life.
