Karen Beecher

Karen Marie Beecher, Yates Center, passed away Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in her home at the age of 87.

Karen was born Aug. 25, 1938, to Guy and DeMoy Pate in Stillwell, Okla. The family moved to several places before settling in Arcadia, Okla., where she graduated from high school.

In July 1956, Karen married William Stevens and had two daughters — Deanna and Debbie. They later divorced. Karen met Edgar “Buddy” Beecher, in OKC and they were wed on Feb. 2, 1962, and had three children — Dustene, Dale and Daryl.

In 1967, the family moved from Okarche, Okla., to the farm in Yates Center.  Karen was a homemaker for most of her life before she started working at Gates Rubber Company in Iola, from where she retired. In 2001 they sold the farm and moved to town.

Karen loved her family and spent many days as a 4-H leader and going to livestock shows with Dustene, Dale and Daryl; and later to the fairs watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren showing livestock. She also loved babysitting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and many other children in town.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Buddy; daughter Dustene; her parents and in-laws; one brother, Johnny; and three sisters, Patty, Emma and Erma.

She is survived by her children, Deanna Johnson of Yates Center, Debbie Stevens of Edmond, Okla., Dale Beecher and Stacey of Iola, Daryl Beecher, Yates Center, and Aileen Blackwell of Yates Center; five grandchildren, Shawna Johnson, Josh Weston, Dallyn Beecher (Brett) and Shandell (Aaron) Skillman, and Jacob Keiter; eight great-grandchildren, Rhylan, Jordynn, Conway, Daxton, Bellamee, Carson, LeDoux and Dally; one sister, Nita Aldrich of Tyler, Texas; brothers, Pete Pate of Temple, Texas, and Richard Pate of Weatherford, Texas; sister-in-law, Maxine Masquelier of Kingfisher, Okla; and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.

Donations in her memory can be made to Friends for Life, Yates Center.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12, at Campbell Funeral Home, Yates Center. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Yates Center Cemetery.