Daisy June Newman, of Roanoke, Va., passed away peacefully on October 16, 2025.
Born in Botetourt County, June grew up in Pico, Buchannan and the surrounding area.
She was one of seven children born to Mary Ellen Smith and James Oscar Newman. An illness took James, and Mary eventually moved her children to Salem. June graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1950.
She met and eventually married Robert McLuer Paxton of Salem in 1953. They had two children, Robert McCluer, Jr., and Susan Corling. Happy years were spent in Lynchburg after they married. They eventually moved to Wilmington, NC., and spent many more happy years there, with June working at the YWCA and Bob at General Electric. After Bob passed, June moved back to Roanoke to be closer to family.
June was devoted to her faith and her church. June always looked to the word of God for faith, teaching, healing and comfort. Raleigh Court Presbyterian was her happy place, and she attended Sunday School, was active in the women of the church, served as Deacon, and served with the Wrapped in Love ladies to create baptism quilts for new babies born into the church.
Her love of quilting extended far beyond baby quilts. June made many quilts over the years. For quite some time she enjoyed her ‘quilting Wednesdays’ where she would drive to the Antioch Church near Calloway and gather with a group of women to quilt. Her handiwork was quite phenomenal.
Always a lover of the outdoors, June tended her birdfeeders and flowerbeds with loving care, always sharing cut flowers and plants with anyone at any time. She also loved using flowers from her backyard as centerpieces for church functions.
A giving and kind soul, she is the last of her siblings. In addition to her parents, June is predeceased in death by her husband, Robert McCluer Paxton; brothers and sisters Harold Newman, Hugh Newman, Edna Harris, Howard Newman, Hazel Newman, and Harry Newman; as well as a nephew, Greg Newman.
June is survived by her son, Robert McCluer Paxton Jr. (Cathy) and her daughter Susan Phipps (Albert). She is also survived by her nephews, Steve Harris (Lisa), Paul Newman, David Paxton, (Vickie), Joe Paxton (Annette), Jim Paxton (Hilda); nieces, Karen Fridy (John) and Martha Nowlin; and her beloved Black Cat.
A service to honor June’s life will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church. The family would like to thank the staff at Sheila S. Strauss Hospice House, Karyn and Mike Farrell, Paul and Cathy Glassbrenner, Paul Voorhees, Mary Boston, and Hope Dickerson for their care and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Sheila S. Strauss Hospice House at www.GoodSam.care, or Good Samaritan, 4751 Cove Road, Roanoke, VA 24017. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.
“No matter how difficult life is, or becomes, you can make a difference” – June Paxton.