Anita "Lorraine" Beckwith

Anita “Lorraine” Beckwith, 103, of Bartlesville, died Saturday in Bartlesville. I In her youth, Lorraine loved the stars of Hollywoodland and collected scrapbooks of movie posters as well as of her favorite actors. Her big dreams of far-off places were always balanced with dedication to her family. The second of four children, Lorraine grew up through what we today read about only in history books, spending her teenage years through the Depression and the Dust Bowl. In 1943, Lorraine followed her goals of both seeing the world and serving her country by volunteering for the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. Although she requested foreign service, she completed her time in the military in the U.S. as a driver. In 1945, Lorraine married Gene Beckwith in Coffeyville, Kansas. Together they embarked on the adventures of raising two boys while Gene’s career with the Phillips 66 Petroleum Company took them to various locations across the country – including exotic places like Indiana and Ohio. After Gene passed in 1978, Lorraine returned to Nowata, Oklahoma and spent the next several decades living next door to her sister-in-law and visiting her parents and siblings almost daily. She was an active member of her church, loved all things purple, and was especially fond of her beloved dog, Winky. For many years she was a regular at the 55+ Activity Center where she was known for her fudge making and her dancing. Driving was at the core of her independent nature, and she was known to make long solo road trips to Florida to visit her son, Joe and granddaughter as well as to Ohio to visit her son, John and his family. Those who knew her well will remember her always with a cup of strong black coffee in her hand. Although we know that she’s resting peacefully now and has rejoined her many loved ones on the other side, we will always miss her here. Lorraine is survived by her daughter-in-law, Dianne Beckwith; grandchildren, John (Heather) Beckwith, Jenny (Brian Schmidt) Beckwith and Andrea Johnson; and great-grandchildren, Sara, Remington, Lexi and Lia. She is preceded in death by her parents, Perry and Katie Sullens; husband, Albert Eugene Beckwith in 1978; sons, John and Joe Beckwith; brothers, John and O.P. Sullens; and sister, Dorothy Cook. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 10-8 at the Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Services will be held on Wednesday, 10 a.m., at the Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Interment will follow in the Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Anita "Lorraine" Beckwith

October 3, 1919 - December 17, 2022