Patricia Raye Beckemeyer

Patricia Raye Beckemeyer of Wichita, KS, died peacefully in her home on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, after an extended illness. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lenore (Newkirk) Means and father, Archie Earl Means, both of Carlyle, Illinois; and by her son, Mark Joseph Beckemeyer of Steedman, Missouri. She is survived by her husband, Roy Joseph Beckemeyer of Wichita, KS; sister, Michelle (Means) Adsit, (Jay) of O’Fallon, Illinois; daughter, Lori Honas (Chris) of Wichita, KS; grandsons, Daniel Howard (Kayley) of Odessa, TX, Samuel “Hank” Honas of Kansas City, MO, Will Honas (Breckyn) of Wichita, KS, and John Honas of Wichita, KS; and by great grandsons, Daxx Howard & Koe Howard. Pat grew up in Carlyle, Illinois, attended Mater Dei High School in Breese, Illinois, and married her high school sweetheart, Roy Beckemeyer on Thanksgiving Day in 1961. After a stint in the U. S. Air Force, Pat and Roy settled down in Wichita, where Pat obtained a BS in Nursing from Wichita State and later, a Master’s Degree in Health Science from WSU as well. Pat worked at Wesley and Riverside Hospitals during her nursing career. She was a square dancer, a runner who completed two marathons, a lover of Labrador Retrievers, a bird watcher who traveled the world (all seven continents) on nature expeditions, a published poet, and an adventurer who enjoyed backpacking, canoeing, and bungy-jumping. Pat was an aficionado of English Cottage Gardens and visited England on three separate occasions for garden tours and to attend classes on English gardening techniques. Her Riverside home was a stopping point for many local gardeners on their way to and from Botanica, and her gardens were garden tour highlights over the years. A Celebration of Life will be 10:00 am, Monday, August 5, 2024, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with: Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, Illumination Projects, 701 Amidon Street, Wichita, KS 67203