Caliste Boykin Benckenstein
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Caliste Boykin Benckenstein
July 5, 1917 - June 7, 2014
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.
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