Katherine Rankin
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: 3 Oct 1924 - Russellville, , Arkansas
Christening:
Death: 29 Feb 2012 - San Manuel, Pinal Co, AZ
Burial:
Cause of Death: congestive heart failure
AFN :
Events
• Obituary, Arizona Dispatch, 22 Mar 2012
Casa Grande, Arizona DISPATCH, Thursday, March 22, 2012• Obituary, copperarea.com
Katherine Rankin Becraft
SAN MANUEL - Katherine Rankin Becraft, 87, formerly of Florence, died peacefully at home in San Manuel on Feb. 29, 2012, of congestive heart failure.
There was no servce at her request. Her ashes will be scattered at one of her favorite places in the desert.
Mrs. Becraft was born on Oct. 3, 1924, in Russellville, Ark., to Thomas J. Rankin and Jessie A. Ashmore. Her family moved to Arizona in 1936 and she grew up on a cotton farm near Florence. Pioneers in San Manuel, she and her husband moved their family to the mining town on Christmas Day 1953, on of the first 25 families there.
She loved to be out in the desert with her children and walked daily for miles until her health kept her home. She enjoyed all the desert flowers, plants, cacti, trees and shrubs. She always had a beautiful yard and garden, along with a spacious greenhouse where she grew many varieties of plants. She loved to help others learn to plant, grow and propagate plants and shared freely from her collection.
She is survived by her husband of almost 68 years, I.W. "Bee"; two sons, Don of Mammoth and Randy of San Manuel; two sisters, Aleene McCutchan of Florence and Betty Van Winkle of Oracle; six grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Rankin Surber; three brothers, Tom, Bob and Emmitt Rankin; and a granddaughter, Carly Becraft.
Katherine Rankin Becraft passed peacefully away at home Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, of congestive heart failure. She was born Oct. 3, 1924 in Russellville, Arkansas, to Thomas Jefferson Rankin and Jessie Articia Ashmore. She grew up on a cotton farm in Florence, after moving with her family from Arkansas.
3-7-12 Katherine Rankin Becraft Obit pix.tif
Katherine Rankin Becraft
She is survived by her husband of almost 68 years, I. W. "Bee" Becraft; children, Don (Kathy) Becraft of Mammoth and Randy (Gayle) Becraft of San Manuel; six grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, along with siblings Alene (Marcus) McCutchan of Florence, Betty (Raymond) Van Winkle of Oracle and Mardell (Robert) Rankin, of Mesa. She was preceded in death by one sister, three brothers and a granddaughter. There will be no services since Mom told us she would disinherit us and come back to haunt us if there were! Mom never wanted to bother anyone or have the spotlight on her!
"Aunt Kitty" loved family, children, the desert, and all plants, bushes, shrubs, and trees. She always had a beautiful yard and garden along with a spacious greenhouse where she grew wonderful plants. She loved to help others learn to plant, grow, and propagate and was always sharing from her collection. Katherine loved to be out in the desert and walked daily for miles until health kept her home.
She enjoyed friends and was active in stitchery for many years.
A pioneer in San Manuel, Katherine moved here with her family Christmas Day of 1953 one of the first 25 families to move into the new town. They lived at 106 Avenue A and remember the first monsoon season before the dips were put in where the streets would all flood and go right down Avenue A, Avenue B and McNab straight through homes and businesses.
Some people may feel compelled to offer flowers or donations in Mom's memory. Mom loved all living flora and would not want 'store bought' cut flowers. We've come up with something that would please her if you can't hold back giving. We are going to scatter her ashes up at one of her favorite places in the desert. We are going to also scatter desert flower seeds on the hills around this area, mainly California Poppies but other desert flower seeds. Mom would love that. If you want to contribute to this effort you can send seeds to Randy Becraft, 221 West Main Street, San Manuel, AZ 85631. Please feel NO obligation however since Mom would certainly NOT want you to be bothered!
October 3, 1924 \endash February 29, 2012
Spouses and Children
1. *Irvin Waldo Becraft
Marriage:
Status:
Children:
1. Jerry Randall Becraft
2. Donald Irvin Becraft