June Elisabeth Brantley Hughes died January 20 in Seguin, Texas at the age of 95. June's long life was devoted to love of family, constant learning, and service to church, community, and country. She was the eldest of six children of Vera Spellmann Abbey and Royal Lester Brantley, Sr. In that role she became the source of wisdom and culture, and eventually the de facto head of the family, a role she did not seek but could not avoid.
June graduated from Yancey High School as valedictorian, but in those days of the Great Depression there was no money for college. Instead, she took a short business course in San Antonio and then worked to help her family. She married Spurgeon Hughes; two brilliant and loving children, Charles Stephen and Barbara Ellen, were born to their union. Spurgeon's Air Force duty included a post to Germany, which June especially enjoyed. After that she had a distinguished career in civil service, working closely with the Secretary of the Air Force during the Vietnam era. After retirement she became an active volunteer at the First United Methodist Church in Seguin and especially at the Schertz Public Library, where she was honored for more than 25 years of service.
June was a gourmet cook and consummate hostess, inspiring one of the family sayings: "Oh, you can come--Aunt June always has plenty." She was a voracious and intelligent reader of both fiction and non-fiction. She enjoyed travel, usually in the company of her sisters, including more than 40 Elderhostels. She also made an adventurous trip to Guatemala on an archaeological dig with her daughter and son-in-law.
June was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles Spurgeon Hughes, her children, Charles Stephen Hughes and Barbara Ellen Robichaux, and brother, Royal Brantley, Jr. Her gallantry in living through those losses was beyond measure. She is survived by daughter-in-law, Kelvie Comer of Redmond, Washington; son-in-law, Hubert Robichaux and wife Kathy, of San Antonio; granddaughter Andrea Hughes of Austin; great-grandson Adrian Hughes of Austin; sisters, Lucille Whitmill of McKinney, Glenna Isham of Seguin, and Kathleen Jones of Austin; brother, John David Brantley of San Antonio; numerous nephews and nieces, who claim her as their favorite aunt; and her dearest friend, Gail Douglas of Schertz.
Throughout her long illness, June remained as independent as possible, still learning and loving. The family is deeply grateful to Guadalupe Regional Hospice and to the loving and respectful caregivers who made it possible for her to remain in her own home. Services will be held Saturday, March 1, at 11:00 a.m. in the Knolle Chapel at the First United Methodist Church, 710 N. Austin Street, in Seguin. Memorial gifts may be made to the Schertz Public Library, 798 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154.