Cindrette Ricker McDaniel

She was the daughter of Rupert Paul Ricker, a lawyer, rancher, and oil man. Her father is credited with cracking open the Permian Basin oil field in West Texas and bringing vast fortune to the area, as well as to the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, even today. She grew up in Garden City, Texas, where her mother, Ruby Ruth Rattan Ricker, was an accomplished musician and history teacher. Cindrette graduated as valedictorian from Garden City High and was the FFA Sweetheart. She was educated at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas and at TWU. She worked as a "Girl Friday" for seven geologists at British-American Oil Company. Her family came by covered wagon and settled in Centralia Draw, near Big Lake, in the early 1900's and this property is still owned by her family. She managed her own oil and gas, real estate, and ranching businesses since she was 30 years old.

She married the love of her life, attorney John Witherspoon Benson, in 1956, and they had two children, Paige and John. Cindrette's beloved husband passed away in 1966 and she moved with her young children to Dallas to be near family. She raised her children in Highland Park and University Park. Cindrette was active in many clubs and organizations including the Dallas Woman's Club, the Marianne Scruggs Garden Club, Bard & Ballad, and many bible studies - many of which she was a founding member and hosted at her home.

Cindrette was a woman of faith and a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church. Her knowledge of the bible and scripture was unequalled, and her many friends, both young and old, called upon her for frequent counsel. She was very proud of her status as OM (other mother) to her childrens' friends and loved giving advice to all. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and she was never happier than when in the presence of family.

A published author, Cindrette wrote The Tumbleweed Poet: The land called Centralia Draw & other poems in 2007 as a collection of poetry - some taken from her childhood, and all from her memory and life.

She is preceded in death by Ruby Ricker (mother), Rupert Ricker (father), John Benson (husband), Prince Ricker (brother), Paul Ricker (half-brother), and Maribel Ricker Rogers (half-sister). She is survived by her children: Paige W.B. McDaniel, John W.B. McDaniel and his wife, Lucy Morrison McDaniel, and grandchildren Katherine Morrison McDaniel and Caroline Benson McDaniel. Cindrette was especially fond of her long-time friend and physician Robert Tau Gunby and his wife Elizabeth.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, there will be a private family service to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Partners of Dallas, 7950 Elmbrook Drive, Dallas, Texas, 75247, or online at CommunityPartnersDallas.org