Ethel "June" Stojcich-Mladinich

Ethel June Stojcich-Mladinich, age 87, passed away peacefully in her home on March 10, 2015, after a short battle with cancer, with her family by her side. June was born on August 27, 1927, in Biloxi, MS, and grew up on Crawford Street. She attended Dukate Elementary and graduated from Biloxi High in 1945. Soon afterward she began working at Keesler Air Force Base as a secretary in the general’s office. In 1957, she married her sweetheart, the late A. Jake Mladinich II, the love of her life. Always by her husband’s side, June worked to support his many business endeavors across the Biloxi Gulf Coast. June and Jake had five children and spent 58 years together until Jake’s passing in December 2014. They will be known for their enduring love and promise to watch the sunset together daily. June was a loving wife, mother, and admirer of nature, art, and photography. She rose every morning with the sun and could be found on the porch enjoying coffee. She was also an avid reader, who instilled in her immediate family that learning takes a lifetime. June found joy in all types of art and after retiring, regularly painted watercolors of flowers and nature, often sharing her art in the form of greeting cards with thoughtful notes inside. Many will remember her for always having a camera ready, and she was not shy about asking people to pose for an impromptu photo-op at any event. June will always be remembered by those who knew her for her wit and kind, loving spirit. June was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony “Tony” and Edna Stojcich; her husband, A. Jake Mladinich II; her son, William Roger McElveen; her sister, Doris Stojcich Cowart; and her brother, Charles Anthony Stojcich. She is survived by her sister, Mavis Stojcich Ferriter; her children, Mary Kathleen Mladinich Spain, Andrew Jake Mladinich III, Andra June Mladinich, April Mladinich Fairley, and Tania Mladinich (William) Buchanan; her grandchildren, David Andrew Spain, Kathleen June Miller, Damien Alexander Spain, Dennis Anthony Spain, Andrew Jake (Katie) Mladinich IV, Richard Anthony Mladinich, Jeffrey Randal (Heather) Fairley II, Charlotte Renee Fairley (Eric) Martin, Amy Darlene Fairley, June Pierce Shivers, William Buchanan V, Gavin Buchanan, Liam Buchanan, Greg McElveen, and Christine McElveen; and her great-grandchildren, Aubree Jade Mladinich, Rowan Christopher Fairley, Kaitlyn Shivers, and Morgan Shivers. The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Jeffery Ponson, a long-time family friend. The family would also like to thank Nurse Hayden with Notre Dame Hospice. Funeral services will be held at the Pass Road Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at 1:00 PM. Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park.