June Benefield Hinckley passed away on August 12 at her home in Austin. She was 81. June was one of those lucky people who knew at an early age what would be her life's passion--to become a journalist. After attending Howard Payne College in Brownwood during her 16th year, June returned to her hometown of Brady where she was Society Editor of The Brady Standard for two years. In 1943, she set out for Houston, determined to make it as a reporter. She began as a cub reporter for The Houston Press, where she eventually was promoted to covering the number one beat: criminal district courts, the district attorney's office and the sheriff's office. When World War II ended, June returned to college at the University of Texas in Austin to formally study Journalism. She was Associate Editor of The Ranger, a popular campus humor magazine. While at UT, June was in a yearlong competition to become a Mademoiselle Magazine College Board Editor, a prestigious honor awarded to only 20 college students. She spent the summer in New York City producing the Annual College Issue. June was the only representative from the University of Texas ever to be awarded this national magazine editorship. Mademoiselle editors further honored her by planning her July 19, 1947 wedding to fellow student Ken Hinckley. June always said a New York-designed wedding was "tall cotton" for a Texas country girl. They moved to Houston, and in 1952 June became a correspondent for the Houston Chronicle Neighborhood News, covering the Oak Forest community. In 1956, under her maiden name, June Benefield began writing a personal comment column titled "Skirt Tales" for the Houston Chronicle. This creative column, written in her home, was published three times a week for 18 years and brought her many honors. Tagged informally by Chronicle staff as the "Kid and Kitchen Editor," June's column was mostly inspired by her family. June was named The Outstanding Woman in Communications in 1956 by Theta Sigma Phi, an honorary journalism fraternity. In 1965 she was named Theta Sigma Phi's "Headliner in Houston," their top individual award. In 1966, the Associated Press Managing Editors gave her their highest award for a five part series, "Life Begins At Forty." In 1970, the Texas Bar Association and the Houston Bar Association presented her their "News Media Award" for a newspaper series, "Getting Busted," which was considered the most constructive editorial contribution to jurisprudence that year. June Benefield's name appears in Who's Who in American Women in Communications, and she was known throughout Houston for charitable service to many organizations, including the March of Dimes. In 1972, June published a book, "Laughing to Keep From Crying." This popular compilation of her favorite columns and speeches went into a second printing. For the next five years, she added public speaking to her busy life. Her humorous approach to life and its many snags and joys endeared her to audiences and readers alike. Two of her most popular speeches were "It Takes a Heap of Living to Make a House a Home" and "The Five Stages of Marriage." After retirement, June and Ken moved to Austin. Together, they traveled all over the world, usually with the Texas Exes "Flying Longhorns." June also took up her second love, watercolor painting, studying seriously with local and national teachers. A member of the Waterloo Watercolor Group, she was known in art circles as a color stylist or "fauvist." June fulfilled another lifelong dream in 1999 by staging a one woman show of her paintings. She was also a long-time contributor to the Longhorn Foundation in support of University of Texas athletic programs, with a particular interest in Women's Softball. Her retirement years also brought about a new favorite activity: loving grandmother. On July 19, 2003, June and Ken celebrated 56 years of happy marriage. June often said that Ken's loving support of her creativity was the main reason for her success. June Hinckley is survived by her husband, Ken; three children, Carolyn Hinckley Boyle of Austin, Nancy Hinckley Neill and Bill Hinckley of Houston; three grandchildren, Amanda Boyle, Holliday Hinckley and Walter "Rowdy" Hinckley; two great people who married into the family and made it better, Jim Boyle of Austin and Cyndi Brooks Hinckley of Houston; and two brothers, Malcolm Benefield of Amarillo and Jack Benefield of Abilene. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 16th at 3:00 p.m., at St. Johns United Methodist Church, 2140 Allandale Road. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity. June's family is particularly indebted to the loving care of the staff at Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs, Austin, Texas 78759. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705, (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com.
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