Wanda Jean Wells Beckham

Wanda Jean Wells Beckham of Denison, Texas passed away on March 22, 2015. She was born February 27, 1937 in Monkstown, Texas to O.T. Wells and Mildred Lucille Darling Wells.
Wanda attended public schools in Denison, Texas and was graduated from Denison High School in 1955. She enrolled in Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas in 1955. On July 25, 1958, Wanda married Gerald Gist Beckham at Calvary Baptist Church in Denison, Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. Beckham moved to Houston in August, 1958. Wanda was employed as a secretary at Baroid Chemical Company and Gerald as a teacher at Bellaire High School. Mrs. Beckham gave birth to Elizabeth Karron, September 26, 1959.
Wanda returned to Hardin-Simmons University and was graduated in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in English and Business Administration. Prior to her return to H-SU, she studied at Grayson County College and Texas A. & M. University, Commerce. Employed by the Houston public schools, Wanda taught at Deady Junior High School for four years and at Fondren Junior High School for twenty-one years. While at Fondren, she sponsored both the cheerleaders and the school newspaper. The paper was selected as the outstanding junior high school paper in the state of Texas by the Texas Interscholastic League.
Wanda was a committed follower of Jesus, and was active in Sharpstown Baptist Church as a choir member, a Sunday School teacher and youth choir sponsor for many years. She reflected Jesus in all areas of her life and was a life-long Baptist.
The Beckhams resigned from their positions in Houston in 1983 and returned to Denison, Texas. Wanda spent the last few years of her thirty-year teaching career at Whitewright High School. Both Gerald and Wanda were active at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Denison where they invested in countless people. Wanda knew no strangers, listened intently to those in her pathway resulting in people feeling love, valued and cared for. The Beckhams retired together in 1993 and moved to Loveland, Colorado in 1995 to spend their retirement years. They had spent many wonderful times visiting Wanda’s parents in Loveland over the years.
Mrs. Beckham was an accomplished decorative painter. She enjoyed giving her crafts to family members and friends, as well as marketing some of her work to the public. She also took pleasure in sharing her skills in the English language with friends and family who needed help in editing manuscripts and research papers. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren probably benefited the most from this activity.
The Beckhams were members of Orchards Baptist Church of Loveland, Colorado during their retirement. Wanda served as a study group leader and as a member of the sanctuary committee. She enjoyed family gatherings, cooking, painting, reading and being with Beckham while waiting on him and others hand and foot. They celebrated their fifty-sixth wedding anniversary in 2014. Gerald and Wanda returned to Denison in 2013.
Mrs. Beckham was preceded in death by her parents O.T. and Mildred, an infant sister, Margorie Louise, and brother-in-law, Dr. Rufus Spraberry. She is survived by her husband, Gerald; daughter, Elizabeth Karron Johnson and husband, Dr. Timothy Scott Johnson of Lincoln, Nebraska; brother, Robert Earl Wells of Denver, Colorado; sister, Doris Laneta Wells Spraberry of Garland, Texas; sister-in-law, Gwen Beckham of San Angelo, Texas; grandson, Kevin Beckham Johnson and wife, Chasity of Lincoln, Nebraska; granddaughter, Lauren Elizabeth Truelove and husband, Tyler of Frisco, Texas; six great grandchildren, Avery Dolliver, Helen Truelove, Beckham Johnson, Slater Johnson, Jane Truelove and Gray Johnson; nephew and nieces, Stephen Spraberry, Kim Watson, Becky Jackson and their families.
Family visitation will be 6-7:30 p.m. Friday at Johnson-Moore Funeral Home.
Services will be held at Parkside Baptist Church, Denison, Texas on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Dr. Tim Johnson will officiate. Interment will follow at Cedarlawn Memorial Park in Sherman, Texas.
Memorials may be given to WHO (World Humor Organization) http://www.worldhumororganization.org/support.html.
Royal Family Kids Camp, ministry to abused and neglected children in the foster care system, checks made out to New Covenant Community Church, 6000 S. 84th, Lincoln, NE 68516 and notate Royal Family Kids Camp. http://newcovchurch.org/
Bible Studies International, P.O. Box 1289, Marshall, Texas 75671 http://freebiblecommentaries.org/.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson-Moore Funeral Home in Denison, Texas.
Condolences may be registered to: www.johnsonmoorefuneralhome.net