June Brunson

June Evelyn Calloway Brunson, 84, passed away on Friday, May 7, 2010, after a brave battle with cancer. She was born in Brownsboro, Texas on June 15, 1925, to William M. and Norah Keith Calloway. She grew up living in various small towns in the East Texas area and graduated from Longview High School in 1942. She attended Kilgore Jr. College and worked at a secretary in the medical field, aircraft industry and judicial system. She worked also in College Station and Austin as executive secretary for State 4-H Club and the Mens’ Intramural Programs respectively. When she moved to Corpus Christi in 1951, she and her husband owned and operated two businesses for over 30 years, Southern Trailer Sales and J. H. Brunson Refrigerated Trucking Service. She also worked for Jennings Chevrolet before retiring in 1990. She has always been active as a member of several Baptist churches locally, including Downtown Baptist, Parkdale, of which she was a charter member, Forrest Park, Tuloso-Midway and First Baptist. She was involved and held offices in YWA, Sunday school, WMU, Mission Minders, adult literacy, recreation center, and outreach programs. Before her illness, she was honored to be director of Adult Sunday School Dept. 7 at First Baptist. She was a 50 year member and Past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Independence Chapter No. 1044 and also a 50 year charter member and Past Queen of the Daughters of the Nile, Elidad Temple No. 134. She was involved with her daughters activities as they were growing up such as PTA, church activities, sports, band boosters, Girl Scouts, and twirling. She enjoyed helping and giving of her time to many. She loved fishing, especially at Caddo Lake, gardening, traveling, cooking, decorating and spending time with her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, an only brother, William M “Billy” Calloway, Jr., her husband of 43 years, Jimmie H. Brunson, and her daughter, Wendy Gilmore. She is survived by her daughter, Linda McGonigle (Mike) of South Padre Island, Texas; son-in-law, Joel Gilmore of Corpus Christi, Texas; three grandchildren, Brian Gilmore of Houston, Texas, Lena Williams (Sean McDowell) and LaVida Williams; and her great grandson, Corey W. McDowell all of South Padre Island, Texas. Visitation will be from 1-3 P.M. with the family present, Monday, May 10, 2010, in the parlor at First Baptist Church, 3115 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas. The funeral will follow in the chapel at First Baptist, with Executive Pastor, Steve Hartwick officiating. A reception will immediately follow in the parlor of the church. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Adult 7 Sunday School of First Baptist. A brief graveside service will be at 4 P.M., Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at Rusk County Memorial Gardens, Henderson, Texas. Those who wish may make contributions to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 6977 South Main Street, Houston, Texas 77030 (Orthopedic), 815 Market Street, Galveston, Texas 77550 (burns) or American Cancer Society. Special thanks to Legacy Home Health and Hospice, Cancer Specialists of Corpus Christi, Drs. Haitham Jifi, Pedro Torres, Aftab Mahmood, J. Mitchell Dye and Morgan Campbell.