Patricia Ruth Potucek

POTUCEK Patricia Ruth (Pudden) Potucek a Kansas artisit , 86 of Hutchinson died Saturday, March 26, 2011. Born February 13, 1925 in Arkansas City, KS the daughter of Leo and Ruth (Clark) Pudden, Pat graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1943. Educated at the Kansas City Art Institute, she won national awards as Display Decorator for Newman's Department Store in Arkansas City. She married Charles William Potucek, Jr., in 1949. His argricultural career led them to Tribune, Dodge City, and Garden City, KS, at which time she was the President of the Southwest Kansas Art Association and won the Kansas Press Woman's Award for Children's Book Illustration for Ida Rath's "Carrot of Gold". Charles (Chuck) and Pat moved to Hutchinson, KS in 1962. They divorced in 1972, but remained friends until his death in 2002. She won many art awards, worked in many media and completed more than 250 murals during her lifetime, including major murals located throughout Kansas. She is included in the book "Kansas Murals a Traveler's Guide" by Lora Jost and Dave Loewenstein. Her parents and her brother, Robert Francis Pudden predeceased Pat. She is survived by her six children: Monica Bryant (Michael), Santa Rosa, CA; Marcia Kathleen Strcepy (Rev. Robert Shawn), Shawnee, KS; Lesle Knop (Doug), Paola, KS; Scott William Potucek (Anne), Hutchinson; Charles Todd Potucek, Independence, MO.; and Shannon Elliott (Paul), Kingwood, TX; and 18 grandchildren: Yvette Hatton, El Cerrito, CA.; Tyler Bryant, Santa Rosa, CA; Jessica Lynn; Prairie Village; Leah Olson, Shawnee; Lauren Frost, Santa Rosa, CA.; Stephanie Frost, Hillary Carter, Prairie Village; Brodie Knop, Shawnee; Brom Knop, Kansas City, MO., Cameron Potucek, Nickerson; Rachel Potucek, Los Angeles, CA.; Rebecca Potucek, Hutchinson; Brock Potucek, Kansas City, MO., Nathan Henry, Hutchinson; Andy Henry, Chicago, IL.; Elizabeth Elliott, Dallas, TX,; Amanda and Alexis Elliott, Kingwood, TX.; and 13 great- grandchildren. Sisters-in-law Marjorie McCauley, Virginia Finley and Rita Miller, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, also survive her. A service of remembrance will be Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 7pm at Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main St., Hutchinson, KS. The praying of the Rosary will be Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2631 Independence Rd, Hutchinson, at 1:30pm followed at 2pm with Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Pat Potucek State Fair Art Award Fund at Hutchinson Community Foundation, the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Hutchinson, or the Good Samaritan Society, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main St, Hutchinson, KS 67501. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a personal condolence for the family.