Patricia Potucek

HUTCHINSON - Potucek, Patricia Ruth (Pudden), Kansas Artist, 86, died Saturday, March 26, 2011. Born February 13, 1925 in Arkansas City, Kan., 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 agricultural career led them to Tribune, Dodge City, and Garden City, Kan., 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 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, Calif.; Marcia Kathleen Streepy (Rev. Robert Shawn), Shawnee, Kan.; Lesle Knop (Doug), Paola, Kan.; Scott William Potucek (Anne), Hutchinson; Charles Todd Potucek, Independence, Mo.; and Shannon Elliott (Paul), Kingwood, Texas; and 18 grandchildren: Yvette Hatt, El Cerrito, Calif.; Tyler Bryant, Santa Rosa, Calif.; Jessica Lynn, Prairie Village; Leah Olson, Shawnee; Lauren Frost, Santa Rosa; Stephanie Frost, Hillary Carter, Prairie Village; Brodie Knop, Shawnee; Brom Knop, Kansas City, Mo.; Cameron Potucek, Nickerson; Rachel Potucek, Los Angeles, Calif.; Rebecca Potucek, Hutchinson; Brock Potucek, Kansas City, Mo.; Nathan Henry, Hutchinson; Andy Henry, Chicago, Ill.; Elizabeth Elliott, Dallas, Texas; Amanda and Alexis Elliott, Kingwood, Texas; and 13 great-grandchildren. Sisters-in-law Marjorie McCauley, Virginia Finley and Rita Miller, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, also survive her.