June Beggs Briney

June lived a life of love and joy. Filled with incredible energy, she worked full time, took care of her family, and volunteered in many service roles. June had an infectious happy nature, contagious joy, and a beautiful laugh. She loved people, nature, animals; all of God’s creation.

She was born June 1, 1931 to Helen (Etheridge) and Cleo Beggs. She and her twin brother, Gene, were the middle of four children with an older and younger brother. Born in Atlanta, her family moved to a farm in Lavonia, Georgia where she grew up. Graduating valedictorian of her high school class, she attended LaGrange College, graduating with honors, and Mercer University where she completed a Master’s degree.

After college June moved to Atlanta where she taught elementary school and then kindergarten. She attended Druid Hills Baptist Church where she met lifelong friends and her first husband, Pat O’Rear, a graduate of Georgia Tech. They settled in Decatur and had one child, Michelle O’Rear.

June became Director of the Rehoboth Presbyterian Church Kindergarten and continued to teach (she loved her 5-year olds!). She took the kindergarten kids on field trips to Mathis Dairy, the Atlanta Zoo, Stone Mountain, etc. She hatched baby chickens for them each spring. She created a year-end Circus where every child could be, and perform as, whatever they wished - lions, tigers, acrobats, trapeze artists, horses, elephants, dancers, etc. She was a member, and elected president, of the DeKalb County Kindergarten Teacher’s Association.

She and Pat were very active in their church. Among many other activities, they enjoyed going to Georgia Tech football games and eating at The Varsity, ballroom dancing, square dancing, playing bridge, going to the beach, and camping in the Appalachian Mountains. Summers found them at Ridgecrest Baptist Retreat outside Asheville, NC. June was very athletic. She played tennis, taught swimming lessons in the summer, and even broke her leg ice skating! She danced through life at a breathless speed - even driving she rarely slowed below 80, and somehow never had to pay the speeding tickets!

Pat was diagnosed with a brain tumor when they had been married 4 years. Following surgery they had 5 happy years together until the brain tumor returned. Subsequent surgery resulted in severe impairment to Pat. June chose to take care of him at home while still working full time as Director and Teacher at Rehoboth Kindergarten. Pat passed away after contracting pneumonia.

June supported the home as a single mom. She continued working with the kindergarten, sold World Book Encyclopedias, and began taking tour groups to Europe and the Middle East during summer vacation. This blossomed into a love of travel which continued throughout her life. June had a heart of love and service for others and brought children from the Baptist Children’s Home into her heart and home. She worked with Youth Groups at church, taught Sunday School, led Vacation Bible School, picked up families in the community and drove them to and from church, and she worked as a Volunteer Probation Officer.

June had a special love and compassion for seniors and anyone who had a history of hardship and suffering. Her genuine love encouraged people to share their experiences including neighbors who had survived the Nazi death camps during WWII. She was faithful in visiting seniors who had no transportation (and often no phone), checking on and helping them. She would drop everything to help anyone who needed her.

About 5 years after Pat’s death, June met her second husband, Jerry Briney, through mutual friends. They married after just a few weeks of dating! June and Jerry were very active in their church, worked with the Youth Group taking them on trips every summer, were founding members of the Fernbank Science Center, active in bridge groups, gourmet cooking groups (where June could apply her love of cooking!), symphony, and traveling all over the world.

After about 10 years of marriage, Jerry was transferred with IBM to Austin. They continued to enjoy all the same activities and more with the new friends they met there. On trips with the IBM Newcomer’s Group, June discovered margaritas at The Cadillac Bar in Nuevo Laredo!

They joined Covenant Presbyterian Church where they both volunteered. June served in many roles that utilized her gifts of encouragement, wisdom, compassion and hospitality. These included Elder, Deacon, Chair of the Fellowship Committee, member of the Congregational Care Committee, Discipleship Committee, Worship Committee, Congregational Nominating Committee, “Head Cook” in the church kitchen - she prepared the Wednesday Night Family meals for years. She was a founding member and small group leader for Lamplighter’s Women’s Bible Study. She worked in the children’s program at Covenant, taught Sunday School, and led the Daytime Bible Study Fellowship Children’s Program. She was a Circle member and served on the Presbyterian Women’s board. As a delegate to Presbytery she mentored many seminary students and was an informal mentor to many young women in Covenant.

In her “spare” time, she taught English as a Second Language to new immigrant groups. She was an avid gardener; getting her love of flowers from her mom. She played weekly tennis and bridge, and welcomed many people into her home with cooking and entertaining. She hosted in-home cooking classes with her friend Elmer Prabs, the longtime chef at the Four Seasons Hotel. During the holidays she sought out individuals who had no family and invited them to her family Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. She and Jerry worked at the Salvation Army every year serving holiday meals. And she always fed the hummingbirds and the deer!

In later years, Jerry suffered from Alzheimer’s. He broke his hip and required extensive care. June chose to keep him at home and care for him herself for as long as she could. Eventually he could no longer walk and had to move to a nursing home. But she still went 7 days a week and cared for him there until he passed in 2012.

She continued her volunteer activities in service to others; active in her church and service organizations. She moved to a senior retirement residence and once again became an integral part of that community welcoming newcomers and helping them feel at home.

Most of all, throughout her life, June had FUN! Starting with the mischief she and her twin brother got into - as children and adults - she wanted everyone around her to have fun as well. While her life was met with tragedies, she overcame them to live a whirlwind of joy and adventure; if you got caught in her wake, it was one exciting ride! Her zest for living and abundant love were the hallmarks of her nature. June loved extravagantly and unreservedly, and she was well loved in return! She will be greatly missed by many family and friends.

The family would like to express our deep and profound gratitude to the angels who cared so lovingly for June: Mozell Swist, Dedra Kennedy, and Mimy Tiruneh.

For those who have asked, memorials may be sent to Matthew 25: Ministries of Blue Ash, OH: https://m25m.org/about-us/, or the charity of your choice.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday April 21, 2023, at 2:00 pm, with a reception to follow. It will be at Covenant Presbyterian Church sanctuary, 3003 Northland Dr., Austin, TX 78757.