Rebecca Ann Petty

Rebecca Ann Petty, 88, died Tuesday, October. 22, 2019 in Liberal, Kansas. She was born Dec. 22, 1930, daughter of N.B. Mahuron, who went on to be the Liberal superintendent of schools for thirty years, and Mabel (Reed) Mahuron. Ann was born at the Mahuron home at 924 N. Kansas Ave., in Liberal. She was the fourth, and final, child born to her parents. She lived most of her entire life in Liberal and she attended Washington Elementary, Liberal Jr. High, and Liberal High School, graduating with the class of 1948. As a teenager, she fondly remembered her family hosting World War II soldiers who were stationed at the Liberal Army Air Base. Her family lived in their basement and they provided the soldiers the upstairs bedrooms for living; hosting up to three soldiers at a time. She always believed that was their family's contribution towards the war effort, and many long lasting friendships were established with the soldiers and their families. Following high school, she attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence for two years and studied music. She was married briefly to Curt Harris while living in Lawrence, but divorced after only a few months. She also worked as a proofreader for a Kansas City newspaper for a short time. In 1953, she returned to Liberal and worked as a newspaper proofreader for the Liberal paper and she also taught piano lessons at the same time. In 1957, she met her future husband, Merlin Petty, who worked in Liberal as the local Culligan soft water man. Ann and Merlin were married on Aug. 21, 1958, at the Methodist Church in Liberal, and the couple ended up making their first home at 521 W. Seventh St. In 1970, following the passing of her parents, Ann and Merlin moved their family to her folks' home at 814 N. Lincoln. She lived out the many years of her life at that location, and she often lamented how much she enjoyed her home knowing that she was able to live nearly her whole life in the same place, and then to also raise her own family in that same home. She and Merlin lived on Lincoln Ave. for 41 years before he passed away in 2011. Upon Merlin's passing they had been married for nearly 53 years. She had many interests and skills, including music, playing the piano, teaching piano, gardening, visiting with friends, traveling and dancing. She usually was the first person to lead the conga line at every wedding dance. She especially enjoyed traveling each summer to the mountain village of Cuchara, Colorado to visit the family cabin which had been built by her parents in 1929. The cabin changed over the years from no electricity or water to today with all of the cozy modern comforts. The cabin continues to remain in the family to this day. She worked as a church secretary for her son, Rex, for 25 years at Faith Tabernacle Church in Liberal. She was a member of that church for 33 years. She is survived by one daughter, Becky Prado and husband, Javier, of El Paso, TX.; two sons, Rex Petty and wife Eydie, Liberal; Ray Petty and wife, Millie, of Cookeville, TN.; eight grandchildren, Emily Prado-Brown, and husband Patrick of Rota, Spain; Reid Petty, and wife Hannah of Garden City, KS.; Tahmi Prado-Burroughs, and husband Caleb of Racine, WI; Reece Petty of Ithaca, NY.; James Prado, and wife Patricia of Moscow, ID.; Ryan Petty of Liberal; Ramey Petty-Flowers, and husband Jared of Gainesville, FL.; & Zack Petty, and wife Jasmine of Cookeville, TN.; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and three brothers; Norton Mahuron, James Philip (Phil) Mahuron and Hal Mahuron. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Rebecca Ann Petty please visit our Sympathy Store.