Irene Beck LUBBOCK-Born June 27, 1913, in Palo Pinto County, Texas, Irene Beck died July 26, 2012, in Farmers Branch, Texas. She was the daughter of Robert Harmon and Eunice Irene (Freeman) Hurst. At age seven, she and her family moved to Canyon, Texas, where they farmed at the edge of the Palo Duro Canyon. After high school, Irene continued her education at West Texas State Teachers College, now WTSU, graduating in 1935 with a degree in home economics. She taught school in Stamford, Texas, and later worked for Farm Security and the Public Works Administration. Mrs. Beck was predeceased by her husband, Luther Lee Beck, in January of 2006. At the time of his death, they had been married for 68 years. After their marriage in 1938, the Becks settled in Amarillo, Texas, where Mr. Beck was a salesman for Curtis Candy Company. Through the years, Mr. Beck's work took them to various cities, including Abilene and Lubbock, Texas. While living in Abilene, Irene was dietician at Abilene Christian College, and later, while living in Lubbock, she was executive director of the Caprock Council of Girl Scouts. She was a member of the Lubbock Pilot Club, Lubbock Women's Club, and the Women's Business and Professional Club. In the late 1970s, the Becks retired to Cloudcroft, N.M., where they had maintained a vacation home for many years. They later moved to Carlsbad, N.M., returning to Lubbock in the mid-1990s. In 2001, they moved to Mesquite, Texas, in order to be near their daughter, Lutha, and her husband, Lindle Grigsby. In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, Mrs. Beck is survived by grandson, Lee Grigsby and wife Sue, and three great-grandchildren, Samantha Morrow and husband Mark, Chelsea Pope and husband Andrew, and Grant Grigsby. She also has a great-great grandchild, Madelyn Kate Morrow. Also surviving are her brother, Harmon Gene Hurst, whom she helped rear after the death of both their parents, and a sister, Helen McElwee. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Beck was predeceased by grandson, Lance Dale Grigsby; elder brother, Robert Jesse Hurst; and sister, Mary Ellen Franklin. Funeral services will be held today, July 28, 2012, at 4 p.m. at Resthaven Funeral Home. Interment will be private. Condolences may be offered at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com.

Published in The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on July 28, 2012