Husband Irvin Waldo Becraft [1826]
Born: 24 Feb 1920 - Menifee, Kentucky, United States 1
Christened:
Died: 20 Jun 2013 - San Manuel, Pinal, Arizona
Buried:
FamilySearch ID: L8Q1-1JB
Father: Green Irvin Becraft [1756] (1889-1969)
Mother: Willie Cora Miles [1757] (1892-1967) 2
Marriage: 1 Apr 1944 - Texas, United States 3
Events
Military: AAD, 21 Apr 1942, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States. Army Serial Number: 35452685
Name: Becraft, Irvine W
Residence: State #52 (Kentucky)
Residence: County 165 (Menifee)
Place of Enlistment: 5321 (Cincinnati Ohio)
Date of Enlistment Day: 21
Date of Enlistment Month: 04
Date of Enlistment Year: 42
Grade: Alpha Designation: PVT# (Private)
Grade: Code 8
Branch: Alpha Designation: BI# (Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA)
Branch: Code: 00
Term of Enlistment:5 (Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law)
Longevity: ###
Source of Army Personnel:0 (Civil Life)
Nativity: 52 (KY)
Year of Birth: 20
Race and Citizenship: 1 (White, citizen)
Education: 4 (4 year of high school)
Civilian Occupation: 105 (Clerks, general office)
Marital Status: 6 (Single, without dependents)
Component of the Army: 7 (Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Card Number: #
Box Number: 0943
Film Reel Number: 5.5# #
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His obituary was published. Irvin Waldo 'Bee' Becraft
One of San Manuel's original pioneers, Mr. Bee, Irvin Waldo "Bee" Becraft, brassed out for the last time on Thursday, June 20, 2013 after a brief illness. He was 93 years old and had been in remarkable health until a short time ago. Bee was born February 24
well, maybe 25, 1920, in Frenchburg, Kentucky. The doctor who delivered him was apparently drunk and wasn't too sure about the exact date he recorded it! He grew up in a "holler" outside of Frenchburg, the middle of five boys. Bee was a child of the Depression learning early the value of hard work and using that throughout his life. As a young adult he worked in the CCC, hoboed around the country, and learned how to live on little but to enjoy life.
When World War II started he enlisted and served honorably. His higher education at that time (one year of college) kept him stateside as a Staff Sergeant helping feed the war machine in Europe and the Pacific. During this time he met Katherine Rankin. After a whirlwind eight week engagement they were married on April Fool's Day. Sixty-eight years later Mom still teased him about whether they were really married.
After the war Bee worked with Katherine's father on his cotton farm in Florence for several years. He also worked combines and in the cotton gin in Coolidge. One day his brother-in-law told him of a job in the warehouse at a new mine opening in southeast Pinal County and he applied and was hired as a clerk, living in the bunkhouse for six months until the town opened. He worked at Magma for almost 30 years ultimately becoming the manager of all the Magma warehouses including Superior. Bee and the family moved into their brand new home at 106 Avenue A in San Manuel on Christmas Day, 1953. They were in the very first wave of residents and never left the area. And, yes, for a period of time the road into town WAS dirt! Bee got into a discussion with a gentleman one day who was relatively new to the area and INSISTED there had always been a paved road. Bee got the best out of his retirement having been retired longer than the almost 30 years he worked at Magma!
He worked closely with Don and Randy teaching them sporting skills, spending endless hours throwing, catching, passing, and encouraging. He never missed a game and was always his sons' best fan. He taught the boys proper gun safety and how to use woodworking tools providing a lifetime of skills and abilities that have served their families well.
In his early youth he learned to play the guitar. Later he injured a finger in a woodworking accident and could not stop the strings anymore. So, just because he loved music, he learned to play the pedal steel guitar in his early 60s. He played so well that bands begged him to join them but he only did it for his own satisfaction, thus short circuiting a potentially great career in country western music.
Loving all sports, he was an excellent bowler and was on top teams in Tucson. However, later in his life his interest changed. Not to engage in careless understatement, but Bee LOVED golf. He played as often as he could and was a scratch golfer for years plus he shot his age well into his late seventies. For a number of years after retirement he ran the San Manuel Golf Club where he and Katherine made it into one of the best 9-hole golf courses in Arizona. He was later made a life-time member of the club and continued going every day he could until it closed. Many remember him for his excellent golf lessons to adults and youth alike, including working with the San Manuel High School Golf Team at times.
When he could no longer safely drive (91) he gave up his car and got a golf cart to drive around town. He was able to live alone until a very short time ago and you could see him tooling around town headed for Pete's for lunch or the dollar stores for his simple needs. Many people watched out for him and, when he had problems, there were many, many phone calls to us to alert us he was stuck well after he had been helped home by willing friends.
Bee was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Katherine, a granddaughter, Carly Becraft, and three brothers, Winfred, Wendell, and Walter. He is survived by a brother, Willard (Pauline) Becraft, his sons Don Becraft and Randy (Gayle) Becraft, both of San Manuel, six grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, and three dear sisters-in-law, Alene McCutchan, Betty Van Winkle, and Mardele Rankin.
As with his wife Katherine there will be no formal service as they requested\emdash nay, demanded. If you have memories you want to share please email Randy at therandybecraft@gmail.com or mail to 221 West Main Street, San Manuel, AZ 85631, and we will compile these and send you a copy. If you can't help yourself and just have to give something please donate to the Salvation Army. One time during the war Bee got an unexpected leave and needed money fast. One organization that will remain unnamed refused to help him but the Salvation Army stepped in and provided $57, a lot of money then, and he never forgot their generosity. I always give to the Salvation Army in memory of Dad when they are ringing their obnoxious bells each Christmas season.
An informal open house for sharing memories will be held from 2-5 p.m., Saturday, June 29, 2013, at the San Manuel ?Elks Lodge, 143 Eighth Ave., San Manuel. Bee was an early member of the Elks in San Manuel. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.
Thank you all, Mr. Bee's many, many friends throughout his long and happy life.
Wife Katherine Rankin [9040]
Born: 3 Oct 1924 - Russellville, Pope, Arkansas, United States 4
Christened:
Died: 29 Feb 2012 - San Manuel, Pinal, Arizona 4
Cause of Death: congestive heart failure
Buried:
FamilySearch ID: LQ5V-6P8
Find A Grave ID: 87320782
Events
Her obituary was published in the Arizona Dispatch on 22 Mar 2012. Casa Grande, Arizona DISPATCH, Thursday, March 22, 2012
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.
Her obituary was published in the copperarea.com. 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.
Children
1 M Jerry Randall Becraft [5551] (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Gayle Pratt [6819] (living)
2 M Donald Irvin Becraft [10120] (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Kathy [10615] (living)
Birth Notes: Husband - Irvin Waldo Becraft
Certificate # 43-21144.