Royce C. Beam

Royce C. Beam, 83, of McPherson passed away May 18, 2014. He was born July 31, 1930, in McPherson, the son of Harold and Bertha Beam. He attended King City Grade School in Elyria, graduated from McPherson High School in 1947, and McPherson College in 1951. That year he began farming on the family farm near Elyria. While attending college, he met his future wife, Phyllis Bowman of Quinter, KS, and they were united in marriage on Aug. 8, 1952.

Royce was an active member of the McPherson Church of the Brethren, as well as in the community, serving on the boards of Peoples Bank & Trust, Mid-Kansas Coop, School District 418, McPherson County Extension, King City Township, McPherson College Alumni, Kansas Angus Association, McPherson Farm Bureau and Kansas Farm Management. He was well respected as a farmer and felt honored to receive the Outstanding Young Farmer award in 1963. Alongside Phyllis, they received the Kansas Master Farmer and Master Homemaker award in 1987.

Royce was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis, and grandson, Spencer Meyer. He is survived by: a brother, Winston Beam and wife, Rita, of McPherson, KS; four children, Alan Beam and Kathy Zaremba of Burrton, KS, Dr. Daryl Beam and wife, Corina, of Hays, KS, Lisa Meyer and husband, Dave, of Winston-Salem, NC, and Neal Beam of McPherson, KS; seven grandchildren, Travis Beam and wife, Julie, of Elkhart, IN, Tyler Beam of Hays, KS, Tanner Beam and wife, Katie, of Gardner, KS, Courtney Plaisted and husband, Justin, of Bristol, TN, Duncan Meyer of Winston-Salem, NC, Kati Beam Tyler and husband, Alex, of Omaha, NE, and Kelsi Beam of Phoenix, AZ.

A service celebrating Royce’s life will be held Saturday, May 31, 2014, at 1:00 pm at the McPherson Church of the Brethren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to McPherson College for the “Royce & Phyllis Bowman Beam Scholarship in Vocal Music” or the McPherson Church of the Brethren, in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Royce C. Beam please visit our Sympathy Store.