Thelma Mae "Pritchard" McBeath

Funeral services for Thelma Mae McBeath will be at 10:00am, Saturday, August 3rd, at Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Chapel with Dr. Ray Crawford officiating. Graveside services will be held at 3:30pm at Mount Comfort Cemetery, Springfield, MO. Visitation will be at the funeral home Friday, August 2nd 1-8pm., and family will greet friends from 6-8pm.
Thelma went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 28th, 2013 at the age of 87.

The daughter of James Welton Pritchard and Eva Texas “Wood” Pritchard, Thelma was born May 23rd, 1926 in Springfield, MO. She had one brother, Roy Edwin Pritchard.
Thelma attended business school and worked in the payroll department at Merchant's Creamery Company in Springfield. She met Bill McBeath during that time and married him December 6th, 1943. They started their family in Springfield before moving to Claremore, OK in 1948 so Bill could attend Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa.

Thelma was a wonderful mother and the sole provider of their 4 children after her husband died in 1954. In 1960 after the children were old enough to be in school, she went to work at the J. C. Penney Co. She was a devoted and loyal employee of Penney's and after 32 years of service, Thelma retired from her position as office/accounting manager in 1992.

Thelma was very active in her church - The First United Methodist Church of Claremore, and in various community organizations as in the Night Timers, Home Extension Group, The Teddy Bear collection for the Police department, and den mother for Cub Scout Troops. She participated in the Roger's County Fair and was awarded many ribbons.

Thelma was preceded in death by parents – Jim "Pawie" Pritchard and Eva Jiron; her husband - William Wilson "Bill" McBeath, Sr.; her brother and his wife - Roy Edwin "Buck" Pritchard and Connie; brother-in-law Virgil L. McBeath; and her eldest son, William Wilson McBeath 'Bill, Jr.".

Thelma is survived by her daughter, Barbara A. McBeath of Pahala, Hawaii; sons: Wayne L. McBeath of Claremore, and Douglas E. McBeath and wife Carolyn of Collinsville; granddaughters: Holly Marie Melton and husband Sam of Tulsa, Hannah Renae Wilson and husband Travis of Owasso, Rachel Sue Dockum and husband, Stephen of Tulsa, and Julie Ann Beall and husband Michael of Sand Springs; Sister-in-law Mary Alice McBeath of Springfield Mo; great-grandson by marriage Colby Wilson and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.