Sara Hill Walters Beacham

Sara Hill Walters Beacham, a homemaker, former teacher and guidance counselor, published author and loving mother and grandmother, died of complications from a long heart-related illness on March 14, 2025, in the Los Angeles area. She was 86.

Born Sara Hill Walters on November 25, 1938, to Henry Hubert Walters and Lillie May (“Tomye”) Hill Walters, she grew up in Port Arthur, TX, along with her younger sister Sena Clare Walters Kerns. Sara graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School In 1956.

She briefly studied nursing at Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville TX, later graduating from Lamar State College of Technology in Beaumont TX, with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in the late 1950s. In 1984, Sara resumed her education, earning a master’s degree in educational psychology counseling from the University of Houston.

Sara married Thomas Jerry Beacham Sr. of McComb Mississippi on December 30, 1960, in Port Arthur and moved to Nederland, TX where they raised three children, Thomas, Robin, and Travis. Their fourth child, David, died shortly after birth. The children (and later her grandchildren) called her by her nickname, “Memo” (pronounced me-moe).

While living in Nederland, Sara taught 9th grade science at C.O. Wilson Jr. high school and at St. Mary’s Catholic school in Port Arthur for several years. She also began her passion for painting and writing science fiction and children’s short stories. A lover of animals, Sara acquired a menagerie of pets over the years for her and her children to enjoy, which included snakes, ducks, chickens, a pony and a horse. The Beacham family moved to the Houston area in 1978 when Jerry received a promotion during the acquisition of Gulf Oil by Chevron. Upon earning her master’s degree in the 1980s, Sara worked as a counselor at Meadow Briar Home for Girls which resulted in Sara and Jerry gaining a teenage foster daughter, Shirley Ann Case (Lowrey). In 2007-2008, Sara became a self-published author with the release of her book for young readers titled, “Miranda and the Tiger’s Eye.”

Sara was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints where she served in many callings which included a Sunday School teacher, Librarian, local church newsletter publisher and bulletin editor. She was also a member of the church’s Relief Society organization. Sara crocheted many Afghan blankets for graduating high school seniors, newborn babies and missionaries in her various congregations.

Due to declining health, Sara moved to the Los Angeles area in 2017 where she lived with her daughter. There, she attended the local senior center where she enjoyed art and Spanish classes and where she met Jack Cartwright who was a retired Episcopal priest. They dated until his passing in 2019. Sara’s health continued to decline until she passed away on Friday March 14, 2025, with her children Robin and Travis by her side.

Sara is preceded in death by husband Jerry, sons Thomas and David Beacham, parents Hubert and Tomye Walters of Port Arthur, TX, foster granddaughter Megan Lowrey of Seabrook TX, and boyfriend Jack Cartwright of Fullerton, CA.

She is survived by daughter Robin of California, son Travis, daughter-in-law Piyun, grandchildren Jett and Leia Beacham of The Woodlands TX; foster daughter Shirley Ann Case Lowrey and foster granddaughter Alicia Lowrey, of Crosby TX; Sister Sena and brother-in-law Bill Kerns of Kingwood TX; Sister-in-law Mary Beth and brother-in law Jerry Cronin of Hattiesburg, MS; brother in-law George and sister-in-law Trudy Beacham of Magnolia MS; numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews living in Texas, Arkansas, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and California.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Cashner Funeral Home, 801 Teas Road, Conroe, Texas 77303. Visitation/Viewing 9 -10am. Service 10-11am. A private graveside service will follow. Interment will be at Greenlawn Memorial Park cemetery, Groves, TX.

Flowers are welcome. In lieu of flowers you may donate to a Cat Rescue or Animal Shelter in Sara’s name.