Former Ignacio resident, June Box-Tibbetts died Jan. 16, 2015 in Portland, Oregon due to complications of a long illness. She was 64.

June was born June 19, 1950 to Fritz and Pearl Posey Box. She was a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and grew up in the family home between Bayfield and Ignacio, Colo. She attended Bayfield schools and graduated from Bayfield High School.

After high school June was employed with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Housing Authority before moving to Denver, where she lived for several years. She then moved to Boise, Idaho where she lived with her sister for a brief time.

June visited Portland, Oregon and loved the area so much that she moved there permanently. She then met and married her husband of 23 years, Roger Tibbetts. She worked at various jobs in Portland until she developed a serious illness.

June loved her family and visited as often as she could. She would always call or text family and friends. She enjoyed going to pow-wows and doing beadwork. She often traveled to the west coast of Oregon where she visited and gambled at various casinos. June was a Denver sports fan and especially loved watching the Denver Broncos.

She is survived by her husband Roger Tibbetts of Portland, Oregon; her sisters Shirley Esparza and Joyce Frost both of Ignacio, Colo. She is also survived by her nieces Venerita, Carole and Tina Valdez, Dayna Esparza, Venessa Carel, Lindsay Box and Molly Casey all of Ignacio, Colo. Her nephews, Sylvian, Sherman and Bruce Valdez; Sylvia (Axe) and Darren (Buffy) Joseph; Cameron and Devon Frost; Craig and Loren Box, all of Ignacio, Colo. as well as numerous extended family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Fritz and Pearl P. Box; brothers Orion, Clyde and Greg Box; sisters Alvina Spencer, Ernie Watts, Karen Box and Lena Box.

A memorial service was held at the Southern Ute Multi-Purpose Facility on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2015.