ARVEL "SHORTY" MONROE BECKHAM, JR., passed away Sunday, March 31, 2013 at his home in Bristow, Oklahoma.

Mr. Beckham was born February 10, 1929 in Denver, Colorado to Arvel M. and Susan Belle (Burner) Beckham.

When Mr. Beckham was an infant, his family moved from Colorado to Latham, Kansas where their families all lived. Mr. Beckham attended his school years in Latham and worked as a young man for several ranchers in the Latham area. He started working at Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas in 1950. During his career at Beech, Mr. Beckham worked in tooling/layout and spent some time as a crew chief before retiring in February 1991. After retirement, Mr. Beckham enjoyed raising cattle and along with baling his own hay, did custom hay baling. All who knew him knew of his great love for music.

In 1947 he married Patricia Haaga of Atlanta, Kansas. They had four children, Lovetta, Brenda, Larry Dean and Joseph.

In 1957, he married Marjorie Murray of El Dorado, Kansas. They had one child, Tonya.

Mr. Beckham was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Beckham, his mother, Susan Beckham, his father, Arvel Monroe Beckham, Sr., his brothers, Gerald Beckham, Arvel Beckham, III, and William Beckham, and a granddaughter, Shawna Murray.

Survivors include:
His daughters: Lovetta Miles, Brenda Ramsey and Tonya Adams, all of Overland Park, KS;
His sons: Larry Beckham of Bristow, OK; Joseph Beckham of Wichita, KS; Larry Murray of Marionville, MO; and Milton Murray of Crane, MO;
His 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; and
His brothers: Thomas Beckham of Louisville, KY; Frederick Beckham and James Beckham of Jackson, MS.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 10:30 A.M. at Miles Funeral Service. Interment will follow at Burden Cemetery. The family will greet visitors from 9:00 A.M. until service time.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Burden Baptist Church. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.