Daniel Alan Mecham

Daniel Alan Mecham was born on April 7th, 1962 in Burlington, Colorado to Virginia K. (Kiefer) and Roy Mecham. He grew up on a farm south of Edmond, Kansas with his brother and three sisters. Dan was a member of 4-H growing up, and took many exhibits to the county fair. He attended Edmond Elementary School and Lenora High School where he was a standout on the football team. He attended Pratt Community College on a football scholarship. He attended Northwest Kansas Vo Tech school and Colby Community College. He was united in marriage in June of 1983 to Linda Thomas of Hoxie, Kansas. To this union two daughters were born: Jessica Marie and Samantha Rachelle. After graduation Dan and Linda moved their family to Belton, Missouri where he worked several years as a draftsman. Ready for a change, Dan returned to work in the oilfield and moved to Beaver, Oklahoma. The last five years Dan was a toolpusher for ReCon Africa, drilling exploratory oil wells in Namibia, South Africa.

During his life, Dan enjoyed stock car races and raced his own car for many years. He was always willing to help other racers with their cars if needed. He was an avid motorcycle rider. He also attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 2023, with plans to attend this year, which, due to health problems he was unable to do. Being very well rounded, Dan enjoyed horseback riding and owned his own for a while. He was able to do a horseback trip in the Rockies with his cousin Freddie Kiefer a few years ago. Dan was a well-loved member of the Beaver community. He never met a stranger and had numerous friends. One of his favorite community activities was dressing as Santa during the Christmas season with his booming hearty laugh. His town barbecues were a favorite of friends and family, and he often entertained his guests with tales of his adventures in Africa and the exotic foods he ate there. A life-long Chiefs fan, Dan never missed a game or a chance to tailgate.

After a long well fought battle, Dan passed away in his home in Beaver, Oklahoma, on 8/25/24 with family at his side. 

He was preceded in death by his mother Virginia Tyrrell.

 He is survived by his daughters: Jessica Marie Mecham; Samantha Rachelle Mecham; four grandchildren: Isaiah Burns, Tristan Williams, Wesley Hopkins and Mercedes Hopkins. Other family include Deb Billips and husband Gary Billips, Michelle Owen and husband Mick Owen, Vernon Ferguson, Natalie Ferguson and husband Chad Pentlin, and a stepbrother, an uncle, aunts, cousins and numerous friends.

A balloon release in honor of Dan will be at the Beaver, Oklahoma sand dunes Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 6:30 pm. A memorial service will be held Sunday September 29, 2024 from 10 A.M. to about noon at the Beaver County Fairgrounds in Beaver, Oklahoma. 

The family requests donations to your local volunteer fire departments or The Pancreatic Cancer Institute, 29 Broadway, Floor 4, New York, NY 10006-3111.