Mildred Louise Haynes Beecham, age 94, of Cherokee, Kansas died July 22, 2023 at Medicalodge in Columbus. The daughter of James Clifford and Helen Irene (Hack) Mason, Louise was born in Cherokee on April 8, 1929. She graduated from Crawford Community High School on May 14, 1947.
On May 15, 1947, she was united in marriage to Ralph Herbert Haynes of Cherokee, Kansas. They had one son, Rodney Haynes, wife Valinda; and three daughters, Joyce Vietti, husband Anthony, Sharon Brenner, husband George, and Debbie Smith, husband David. Ralph preceded her in death on February 26, 1970 in El Dorado, Kansas where they lived at the time.
On November 10, 1973 Louise married John Holly Beecham. They resided in Cherokee until his death on November 16, 2995. She remained in their home until July of 2019 when she moved to Autumn Place Assisted Living in Columbus, Kansas.
Survivors include her four children and their spouses; one sister, Betty Burton; one brother, Jim Mason; five grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Richard Mason, two sisters, Henrietta Ghilino, and Charlotte Ulery; one grandson, Johnny Vietti; and three step-children, Doug Beecham, Pamela Jaeger, and Paula Atkinson.
Funeral services will be held at Derfelt Funeral Home, July 31, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. From there, burial will be at Cherokee Cemetery. Rev. Jamie Tickel from First Baptist Church in Joplin, Missouri, along with grandson Jason Smith, will officiate. Pallbearers will be Chad McQuillen, Jason Smith, Kory Kimrey, Kyler Vena, Colton Mungle, and Michael Smith.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church of Cherokee, Kansas, where Louise attended church for many years.
