June Russell

June Carolyn Downs Russell, 83, of Hot Springs Village, AR, passed away July 16, 2020 with her husband,
Jim, by her side. She was born to parents (RW ‘Bob’ and Birdie Downs) June 2, 1937. June graduated
from Hughes High School as class VP in 1955 and attended Southwestern & Methodist Hospital School of
Nursing in Memphis in 1958. She was happily married to James ‘Jim’ Franklin Russell III for over 53
years.
June is survived by Jim Russell (Husband, AR), Jimmy Russell (Son, FL), Jennifer Joyce (Daughter, TX), RW
‘Bobby’ Downs (Brother, TX) and her Grandchildren Taylor & Jacey Burreson and Step-Grandchildren
Ryan & Reed Joyce.
June was an exceptional Bridge player, a seasoned Tennis player (in her prime), a quick-witted story &
joke teller, a ‘sugar’ giving Maw Maw, a doting wife and encouraging Mother, and even became a pretty
good women’s Diamante 9-Holer on the course. She looks down smiling on all of us now and passes on
nothing but Beautiful Memories.
As her health declined, she told us to “Tell everyone that loves me that I love them too” – and that is
just the way she would want us to remember her – a lady so quick to give love & certainly easy to be
loved. She will be missed, but not forgotten.
Services to be held Tuesday, July 21 st at 2pm at Balboa Baptist Church in Hot Springs Village. There will
be another small service at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN later this year. www.cedarvalefuneralhome.com