June Evelyn Santerre

June Evelyn Santerre born September 6, 1934, passed away with grace on Thursday, September 15, 2022. She lived a very full life of 88 years with many interests and was the quintessential soul mate of Ray Paul Santerre, Jr. who preceded her in death in 1999, and was the omnipresent influencer of their two sons. June was the middle child of Elbert and Mavis Burkett where she learned the hard work of sewing, cooking, cleaning, horticulture, accounting, religion and accountability as a child and young woman. Skills that served her for a lifetime, professionally as a bookkeeper, executive assistant, manager, and even in retirement as an election judge for Fort Bend County for more than 20 years. Then personally as an outstanding gift giver (especially at Christmas), a fisherman and a seafood chef, a pool and lawn caretaker and a horticulturist. If you were the lucky recipient of even a partial slice of the famed (Sakowitz) cheesecake, you were truly loved. Prior to retirement, the soul mates traversed the entire gulf coast and beyond in their Merry Miler looking for the best bays for fishing and untold connections for both utilities and like-minded explorers. She loved to travel to Mexico as often as they could, and she even expanded to historical and scenic sites in America, Canada and then Italy later in life, especially those with flower gardens. In retirement, Ray and June built the house of their dreams and it included a pool and immaculate grounds of flowering plants, azaleas, and sago palms which were enjoyed by many for three decades. The events and parties in their “utopia” were year-round and for the brave the water was never too cold. And if it was, there were lady sleepovers, margarita parties and movie nights seemingly without end, unless they went to live concerts and shows. In addition to her husband Ray, June was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister Beth Prince and her husband Charles Prince and their sons Jack and Terry, her older brother Jack Burkett and his wife Norma Burkett, her younger brother Kenneth Burkett, and her youngest son Paul Bradley Santerre. She is survived by her younger sister Barbara Nell Doran, her sister-in-law Waynelle Burkett, and her oldest son, Ricky Ray Santerre, and his wife Mary Ellen and her daughter-in-law Cathy Ann (Rippe) Santerre. In addition to five nieces and six nephews, she is also survived by her five grandchildren, Lauren Lee (Santerre) Saad and her husband Randy, Hannah Rebecca (Santerre) Snider and her husband Adam, Zachary Ray Santerre, Katelyn Grace Santerre, and Anne Lenore (Santerre) Ruble and her husband Micah. She is also survived by her five great-grandchildren, Jade Santerre, Jakob Snider, Halle Snider, Kane Snider, and Vivian Saad. While June raised only boys and seemed to relate to men much more quickly, over time she became the head mermaid and while mermen were welcomed, she relished her time with all the mermaids above! What a fabulous life, she swam with anyone who would swim with her until she was 86, we have the pictures to prove it. A memorial service for June will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 23, 2022, at Faith United Methodist Church located at 4600 Farm to Market 359, Richmond, Texas 77406. A reception (with lunch) will follow immediately afterwards. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice. Here are a few of June’s favorites: Assist the Officer Foundation 1602 State St Houston, TX 77007 Coastal Conservation Association Texas 6919 Portwest Dr #100 Houston, TX 77024 Faith United Methodist Church 4600 Farm to Market 359 Richmond, TX 77406

Tributes

June Evelyn Santerre

September 6, 1934 - September 15, 2022