Mary June Beck

She was born on August 28, 1914, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Lloyd Dix Cooper and Julia Phoebe Bartlett. Even growing up in the depression, she had a happy childhood, as the youngest of three sisters. She acquired nicknames: Scoop, for “Cooper,” and “June Bug,” given to her by Bill “Bumpy” Stevenson, head of the American Red Cross. Her nicknames reflected her wit and charm.

After attending Campfire Girls camp as a young girl for many years, she became a counselor at 18 and then staff assistant. She attended McAllister College in St Paul for one year, living in and enjoying dorm life, and then, because of expense, she lived at home and finished her studies in Business Administration at the University of Minnesota, receiving a bachelor’s degree.

Upon graduation, she worked two years in a department store before applying to the American Red Cross, as she desired to work overseas during the Second World War. Upon acceptance, she was sent to England where she gave tours for personnel. Next, she had a stint in Casablanca, North Africa, a staging ground for the Normandy Invasion. Then she was sent to Algiers where she worked in the office and volunteered at dances. Her next assignment was in Naples, Italy, working with enlisted personnel and opening the servicemen’s club, a stop for soldiers returning from battle in north Italy. While the Red Cross was providing “mess” for a dance for the Signal Corps, she met and danced with Gray Beck, who told his friend, John Taylor,” I’m going out with that girl,” twice borrowing a car and taking her to nice places for dinner. Upon returning to the states, Mary June and Gray married on March 11, 1945 at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Mary June continued her work for the Red Cross in Washington, DC, training new Red Cross women for overseas tours.

In 1946, Mary June and Gray moved to Everett, Washington, where Gray worked for West Coast Telephone Company. They had three children and Mary June volunteered in their schools. In 1964, Gray was tapped to be President of General Telephone Company of the Southwest, and the family was transferred to San Angelo, Texas. Mary June and Gray were involved in community service together, including many charitable efforts, as well as active participation at First Presbyterian Church. They also found pleasure in traveling to other countries throughout the world. Even into her late 80’s, after Gray’s death, Mary June went with her family on memorable trips to Cuba, swimming out into the Caribbean, to Alaska where she kayaked in secluded waterways, and to the Grand Canyon, taking a raft trip down the Colorado River. In recent years she delighted in vacations spent revisiting the Pacific Northwest, seeing again the beauty of the area which was her home for nearly two decades. Mary June enjoyed water skiing, snow skiing, skeet shooting, cooking, entertaining, and driving for the San Angelo Center for many years. Her sharp bridge and game playing skills, respectively witnessed by her bridge partners and her grandchildren, were still intact up until the year of her death.

Mary June was a devout Christian her whole life and she found comfort and joy in worship, study and song. Her life reflected her Christian faithfulness.

Mary June was preceded in death by her husband Gray Beck, her daughter, Linda Babb, and her sisters, Marion Fulton & Ethel Lyman.

Survivors include her two sons, Larry Beck and wife, Karen of Gig Harbor, Washington, and Bryan Beck and wife, Janice of Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandchildren, Bree Linton and husband Chris, David Kandel and wife, Bridget, Luke and Courtney Beck, Brandon and Justin Beck; great-grandchildren, Andrew and Alexa Linton, and Zoe Kandel.

The family would like to express thanks to Mary June’s longstanding friend and caregiver, Geraline Felder, and to Regina Hearne and the caregivers of Angelo Healthcare: Sylvia, Carmen, Joan and Mercy, and to Hospice of San Angelo. Likewise, her personal physician, Tom Granaghan, MD, and her trust officer, David Byrd, provided her expert care and counsel, in a loving manner reflective of their Christian faith.

The Memorial Service will be 10:30 A.M., Friday, August 31, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo with Rev. Bill Proctor officiating. Comfortable summer attire is appropriate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions in Mary June’s name be directed to First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo, or to the American Red Cross.

http://www.fpcsanangelo.org or http://www.redcross.org/donation.