Caliste Boykin Benckenstein, a gracious Southern Lady, departed this life peacefully Saturday, June 7, 2014, at the age of 96 at her daughter’s home in Houston. She was born on July 5, 1917, in Beaumont, to Bella Fucich Boykin and Burwell Boykin, Sr. Caliste lived in Beaumont until 2010 when she moved to Houston to be near her daughter. She was the youngest of four children, which preceded her in death, her brother, Burwell Boykin, Jr.; sisters, Elizabeth Boykin Weber and Sr. Antoinette (Helen) Boykin.
In 1943, Caliste married Fred Lock Benckenstein, a prominent Beaumont attorney and one of the founders of Benckenstein & Oxford Law Firm, who preceded her in death in 1987. She graduated from Rosemont College in Pennsylvania. During the war years, she and her husband lived in Charlottesville, Virginia, while her husband attended the University of Virginia Law School. After her husband, graduated, they moved back to Beaumont where she was active in the Junior League where she served for a year as its president. Caliste was active in bringing Spindletop Charity Horse Show to Beaumont and she was honored to be one of those who brought the Beaumont Symphony to Beaumont. She was active in the Magnolia Garden Club and prior to her death received recognition for her fifty-five years of service from the Garden Clubs of America. Caliste was a devout Catholic all her life and was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.
Survivors include her daughter, Helen Benckenstein Joyner and her husband, Carter B. Christie; grand-daughter, Heidi Joyner Mast and her husband, Joerg, of Dallas; great-grandchildren, Hannah Mast, Ella Mast, and Nicholas Mast; nieces, Margaret Wall and her husband, William; Betsy Weber Patterson and her husband, Bill; and Bella Weber; and nephew, Chester Weber and his wife, Laura.
A gathering of Ms. Benckenstein’s family and friends will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a Christian Vigil to follow at 7:00 p.m., Friday, June 13, 2014, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 14, 2014, with Reverend Monsignor William F. Manger serving as celebrant, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica Catholic Church, 700 Jefferson Street, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont. Serving as pallbearers are Chester Weber, Jr., Martin Broussard, Dr. William Wall, Jim Perlitz, Rhew Dooley, Michael Christie, and Craig Christie. Honorary pallbearers will be Carter Byron Christie and Joerg Mast. Serving as ushers will be, William Yoes, Hubert Oxford, III, and Alan Sampson. A reception for family and friends will be announced after the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ms. Benckenstein’s memory to The Dominican Sisters of Houston, 6501 Almeda, Houston, Texas 77021; the Texas Children’s Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77030, or to a charity of one’s choice.
