Rebecca Hesser "Becky" Price

Rebecca Hesser “Becky” Price, 77, beloved wife, mother, Gammie, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 6, 2023. A celebration of her life will be held at 3:00 pm, Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 1550 N. Chapel Hill Drive, Wichita, KS. The celebration of life will be live streamed through the church’s website, www.chwichita.org. On the church homepage, click on the green “watch online” box. Refreshments will be served following the service in the Fellowship Hall. Becky is survived by her husband of 55 years, Richard H. “Dick” Price, Jr.; and their three children, R. Hilary Price-Coulter (Steve), Richard H. “Trey” Price III (Renee), and Ryan H. Price, all of Wichita; grandchildren, Maddie (daughter of Ryan), Taylor and Teagan (children of Trey and Renee); sister, Jami Gilliland Trammell; brothers-in-law, Bruce H. Price, M.D. and Harvey Trammell; sisters-in-law, Lois Hesser, Cynthia Price-Glynn (Philip), Vikki Price, and Sandy Price; and 11 surviving nieces and nephews, and 16 great nieces and nephews. Becky also leaves behind Professor Henry Higgins “Henry,” 43, beloved African Grey Parrot, and Mac, 10, adored Kairn Terrier. Becky is preceded in death by her parents, V.E. “Red” and Elodee Hesser; her brother, Brett Hesser; precious granddaughter, Eva Grace and her three siblings in Heaven (children of Hilary and Steve); brothers in law, Bob Price, Jim Price. Becky was born on July 28, 1945, in Wichita, Kansas to Red and Elodee Hesser. She attended Adams and Alcott Elementary schools, followed by Robinson Junior High, graduating from Wichita East High School in 1963. From there she attended Kansas State University as a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, University of Kansas and graduated from UMKC Dental School. Becky and Dick were married in February of 1968, and moved to Topeka, KS where Becky “put Dick through law school.” Upon Dick’s graduation, they moved to Wichita, where Becky worked and taught at WSU Dental School until they started their family. As her family grew her priorities were directed toward their school and extra-curricular activities, where she poured herself into being Room Mother, PTO activities, Scouting, cheer leading, football, wrestling, later becoming a Certified National Pairer for regional and national wrestling tournaments and spent countless hours designing and constructing detailed handmade costumes and art backdrops. From wrapping gifts, setting tables, arranging flowers, or planning birthday parties, Becky’s touch made everything personal, beautiful, and special. Along with family activities, Becky was involved with her Kappa Alumni group, the original Ronald McDonald House, painting the long-standing kid-friendly mural on the wall of the playroom, the Junior League of Wichita where she was president of her provisional class. Becky was a member of PEO, on the Starkey Foundation Board of Directors, and an avid volunteer with Cars for Charity and spent 30 years or more in a women’s forum. She was awarded the Legacy of Hope Award presented by the ARC of Sedgwick County in 2017. Enjoying the friendly competition it afforded within her family, Becky enjoyed and excelled at sporting clays and trap shooting. She was a member of the 1st Place team in the Celebrity Annual Sporting Clay Shoot for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and won 1st Place in the FEMA Spring Meeting Women’s Division Trap Shoot in Kansas City in 2010. After the children became more independent, there was time for Becky to further develop her artistic perspective, having taken as many art courses as she could fit into her curriculum in high school and college. The family’s extensive world travels inspired her gifted imagination which she expressed through painting, drawing, and photography. She was an award- winning artist working in oil, pastel, watercolor, sculpture, and mixed media, and was a current member of Wichita Women Artists, Kansas Academy of Oil Painters, and Midwest Artists (past President). In Becky’s own words, “Painting is my favorite way of expressing things I love about life- the beauty of God’s creations- from the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains to the sun shining on a child’s face or the incredible colors of a butterfly or a beautiful sunrise. While fly fishing, one of my other passions, I find I’m constantly thinking about painting- how to capture the clarity of the water or the extraordinary colors of a brown trout, the mist on a river in the early morning or the incredible beauty of the places where the trout live.” Becky’s sure faith in Jesus Christ led her in a lifelong discovery of God’s goodness, provision, and His faithfulness. Her faith magnified her love for life, the joy she found in family, friends, and all God’s children, wherever to be found. The essence of her prayers:LordFill me with loving kindness.Keep me safe from inner and outer dangers.Make me well in body and mind.Make me at ease and happy.“Well done, good and faithful servant.”Matthew 25:23 In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made to one of the following: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or Starkey, Inc., 4500 W. Maple Street, Wichita, KS 67209. Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.