Beta Ruth Hudson

Beata Ruth Hudson, 97, died March 15, 2016, at her home in Littleton, Colorado. She was born April 7, 1918, at Marshall, Oklahoma, the fifth child of David George Freund and Emma Sophia Ficken Freund. During WWII, her father changed the spelling of the family name from the German “Freund” to the English “Friend”.Beata earned her BS Degree in Home Economics with a minor in English from Oklahoma A&M. She taught at Shamrock, Oklahoma, before she married Arley Frank Hudson, Jr. in August, 1940. They were married until his death New Year’s Day, 1989. Arley and Beata lived on a farm/ranch divided by state highway 270, halfway between May and Ft. Supply, Oklahoma, raising wheat and registered black angus cattle. Beata taught high school English at May and Buffalo during those years. During the mid-fifties, they moved to Woodward where she taught junior-high English and later high school home economics.Beata loved creating beautiful things. She made most of her own clothes, especially tailored suits and evening dresses; those of her daughter, including her 75-yard satin and lace wedding dress; and frequently designed and made sport coats and dinner jackets for the male members of her family. After moving to Colorado with her family she worked as a professional drapery designer and maker.Then in 1982, after retiring, she found time on her hands and started china painting, taking lessons for three years and participating in a number of seminars from outstanding artists throughout the United States. Beata sold many of her paintings to customers in the US, Sweden, Germany, England and Japan. She displayed china at the Colorado State Fair every year after she started china painting, receiving many high awards and displayed pieces in the World Organization of China Painters Museum in Oklahoma City for many years. On two occasions, her china was featured on the covers of the China Painter Magazine. She also wrote several articles for that same magazine. Beata held several offices in the local Panorama China Painters and Mile High China Painters chapters and served as state president, 1990-1992, of the World Organization of China Painters and later as the state treasurer. She taught china painting classes both in Arizona and Colorado; conducted seminars and demonstrated at art shows and china clubs throughout Colorado, other states here in the US, and in Germany; and taught a class in her home until just a few months before her death.Her faith in God through Jesus Christ has been her guiding light her whole life. She learned her Bible verses from her parents since the Bible was read every evening as she was growing up with prayers at every meal and attendance at Sunday School and Church every Sunday. Arley and Beata were active members of the First Methodist Church in Woodward, Oklahoma, and Beata was a long-time member of the congregation, women’s circle and Bible study at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Highlands Ranch, Colorado.Beata Ruth Hudson was predeceased by her husband, Arley Frank Hudson, Jr.; her parents; both of her brothers, Edgar Freund and Jonathan Friend; three sisters: Alma Friend, Alwina Phillips Arnold, and Cecelia Hay; and son-in-law Keith Buchanan. She is survived by her children: Lyndal Hudson Buchanan, of Houston, TX; Arley David Hudson; Dale Hudson and wife Alice of the Denver metro area. Grandchildren: Buck (Dania) and Tad Buchanan; Dusty, Darren (Aracely) and Davy (Kara) Hudson; and Melissa (Dave) Brumbaugh. Great-grandchildren: Jordon, Makena and Jenna Buchanan; David, Carla, Daniel, Anna, Emma, Nicholas, Jacob and Ava Hudson; Charlie, Joanna, Zack, Abby, Hannah, Phoebe and Elizabeth Brumbaugh. Great-great granddaughter, Jayden Bolten. Her sisters: Bernice Walker and Leta Faye Willhouse; brother-in-law, Albert Willhouse and sister-in-law, Dorothy Friend; and a number of nieces and nephews.Funeral will be held Friday, March 25th, 10:00 am, in the chapel at St. Andrew United Methodist Church,Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Open casket and visitation at the chapel prior to the funeral . A Graveside Service will be conducted by the Rev. Shannon Davis of the First United Methodist Church, at Elmwood Cemetery in Woodward, Oklahoma, Saturday, March 26th, 10:00 am.