Mary Alice Bean Yocham was born September 19, 1935 in Rankin, Texas to Samuel Henry Webster Bean & Mary Jane Stephenson Bean of Rankin, Texas. She was the youngest child amongst three half-brothers, two sisters and a brother. Mary grew up and attended school in the small West Texas town of Rankin. She was a very active and well-liked student. She played high school basketball and volleyball, played the drums in the marching band and was a Rankin Red Devil cheerleader. Fondly known as “Red Bean” among her classmates, Mary had beautiful auburn red hair and the personality to go with it. As a teen, it was not unusual for Mary to travel alone on a train all the way from Rankin to New York to visit her sister. She always believed in pursuing opportunities to live life to the fullest every day. More importantly, she passed that mantra on to her entire family.After high school she went to work for Southwestern Bell in Dallas. She soon met and fell in love with Pat Monroe Yocham; and, they were married on December 31, 1953 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Mary and Pat had five children and lived and raised them in West and East Texas. Mary was very friendly and out-going; she had a kind word for everyone she met. She always worked very hard to provide the “extras” for her family. At a time when many women did not work outside the home, she had many different jobs, most notably as a real estate agent and oil company geo-tech. After her retirement from working many years at RK Petroleum, she continued to live in Midland and bless those around her in any capacity she could.Mary was a talented beautiful Godly woman who loved her Lord, her family and friends.She enjoyed spending time with friends and family, especially her grandkids. She had a heart for the elderly and was always visiting and looking for ways to encourage and minister to them. She had a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ and was always involved in a Bible study group. Her favorites were Kay Arthur’s Precepts classes and Beth Moore studies. She was a faithful 40-year member of Golf Course Road Church of Christ in Midland, Texas.Mary is survived by three daughters and two sons and their families: Cynthia Benson and husband Jim of Midland and their children: Tiffany Benson of Midland, and Brandon Benson and his wife Carolyn of Dallas; and Patti Prude and her husband Tim of Midland and their children: William Prude and Amanda Collier and her husband Jared of Midland; and Todd Yocham and his wife Becca of Midland and their children: Ryan Yocham of Jacksonville, Texas, and Jason Yocham and his wife Sarah of Midland, and Katie Walter and her husband Charlie of Mart, Texas; and Scott Yocham of Leander, Texas; and Jennifer Austin and her husband Jon of Midland and their children: Ansley Siemer, Charlotte Siemer, Zane Austin, and Sawyer Austin of Midland; and great-grandchildren, Caleb and MacKenzie Collier of Midland, and Everett and Monroe Benson of Dallas; and numerous nieces and nephews.The family would like to thank the staff at Manor Park and Visiting Angels in Midland for the compassionate care of our mom. There will be a visitation for the family at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Midland on Friday, February 1, 2019 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. A private family graveside service will be held in Rankin. Pallbearers are her grandsons. In lieu of flowers, the family cordially asks that you consider donating to Midland Christian School, Golf Course Road Church of Christ or Manor Park in Midland, Texas.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com. ,
