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- June Marie Hibbard-Tennison-Underwood, was born December 15, 1928 in Houston, Texas and went home to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015. She was preceded in leaving by her parents, Reverend J. C. Hibbard, and Lillian Grievy.
Her father, Jordan Carl (J.C.) Hibbard, Sr., was a machinist, employed by a Houston company, Reed Roller Bit, and was in the middle of a difficult decision making time when June Marie was born. He had worked hard to establish himself in his trade but was now bothered by his mother's prayers. It seems that she had dedicated J.C. to the Lord when he was very young and now was believing God to save him and call him into the ministry. June Marie was a very sick baby and it was doubtful that she would live. J.C. had often told his mother that there were two things that he didn't want to be and that both were preachers. Somehow through all of the sickness, bills and problems J.C. knew that if he would give it all over to the Lord that God would take care of everything. After much prayer and soul-searching, J.C. told God that if He would heal June Marie that he would go into the ministry. Well, shortly thereafter, June was suddenly a healthy baby girl and so J.C. knew then where he was headed in life and fulfilled his promise to God. June Marie, along with her brother and sister, were all a part of Rev. J.C. Hibbard's ministry.
As a young girl, everyday before she would go to school, June Marie would get up with her younger brother, Jay and sister, Deloris and they would go with J.C. to radio station KSKY in Dallas, Texas where he had established his ministry and produced a radio program called,"The Hibbard Family".
At 18, she married Ross Raymond Tennison and they had two children, Cynthia June "Cindy" Tennison and Donald Ross "Don" Tennison. After a divorce and while June's children were very young, she moved as a single mother to Winnsboro, Texas and established a restaurant and hotel business, The Trade Winn, for businessman A.D. Gearner. June and her children lived there for 13 years until Don married Mary Alice Ledeen and Cindy went to Baylor University. Cindy became a teacher and eventually became the Elementary School principal at the Gospel Lighthouse Christian Academy in Dallas, Texas, originally established by June's father, Rev. J.C. Hibbard, Sr. and Rev. Nell Connor-Hibbard.
June moved to Houston for awhile but ended up back in Dallas in 1970 where she established a dinner club for another businessman named James Bond at a high rise apartment complex called The Top Of The Manor in downtown Dallas, Texas. June lived at the Manor House where she worked until 1975 when she went to work for Doctor George Balla where she was his business manager for 12 years until she married Ronald A. Underwood on April 25, 1979.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald A. Underwood, her children, Cindy Smith, Don Tennison, Ronald J. Underwood, seven grandchildren, Kelli Heidecker, Kimberly Simpson, Ken Tennison, Ron Tennison, Jordan Underwood, Saavanna Underwood, and Cayden Underwood, and seven great grandchildren, Zachary Ward, Alyson Ward, Kaitlyn Ward, Rachael Tennison, Hannah Tennison, Lauren Tennison, Matthew Tennison and Chloe Tennison.
June was the oldest of five children, J. C. Hibbard Jr., Dee Hutcheson, Jaynell Songstad, and Darlene Walker. June and her siblings grew up testifying and singing on a daily radio broadcast with her well- respected father, Reverend J. C. Hibbard. June had a successful career in nursing for many years and also started and ran two successful restaurants in NE Texas and Dallas. June brought a spirit of excellence to anything she did and her management skills created a demand for her services long after she was of retirement age. June was loved and trusted by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Although June found success in many careers, her greatest joy came from being with family. She was known as "Sweetheart" to her husband, mom to her kids, and "Meemaw" to all her grandkids, but all agree she was the best! June Marie had a passion for cooking and everyone who entered her home enjoyed her delicious meals. If you happen to come over on a Sunday, you would feast on her family favorite: roast, mashed potatoes, green beans and her special" Hibbard tea".
Many called her grandma dynamite because of the endless energy she had entertaining her grandkids. She made many trips to Six Flags, the zoo, the water parks, and even jumped in a ball pit or two (and couldn't get back out!) June Marie Underwood has left a legacy of unwavering faith in the Lord evidenced by her love for scripture, her personal prayer life, and her love and dedication to her family and friends. She is truly a Proverbs 31 woman.
Website: http://www.hibbardfamily.com/june
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