Clara “Pat” Beech passed from this life to her eternal reward on April 28, 2022.
Known as “Pat” all her life, she was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, on September 14, 1936, to Roy Hulin and Eileen Thompson Wiggs. As the name of her birthplace implies, her family were cotton farmers. In spite of their poor circumstances, she was very proud of her “cotton picking” heritage and enjoyed sharing stories of fond memories from her childhood. She was the eldest of four children followed by Nell Dean Wiggs Mathis, Roy Wesley Wiggs, and Ann Wiggs Church. Pat loved school and graduated as Valedictorian of her class. Her love for playing basketball equaled her love for learning and she and her team were quite successful on the court.
In 1955 Pat married Patrick H. Beech and they had two children, Karen Patrice and Patrick Lynn. Her husband’s career in the Air Force kept them on the move and took them to live in many different countries and states. While stationed in Morocco in the early 1960’s, Pat obeyed the gospel of Christ and was baptized that very evening in the cold waters of the North Atlantic. She would go on to be very involved in the work of each of the local church’s where they lived.
Pat had incredible creative talent and was an excellent seamstress. She managed the custom drapery operation of several fine department stores and interior design businesses before starting her own successful business in Houston. But for her, her greatest joy was found in being a mother and homemaker. She was especially proud to have received the “Homefront Award” from the Air Force acknowledging the many years of parenting and managing her home without the assistance of her husband when he would be stationed in locations where his family could not accompany him.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Herring; and her son, Patrick Lynn.
Pat is survived by her siblings, Ann Church and Roy Wesley Wiggs; her daughter, Karen Lawson and son-in-law, Larry Lawson; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She will be buried with her husband in a private service at the Houston National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be gratified by your contribution to Foster’s Home for Children in Stephenville, Texas.
