The community of Little Rock, Arkansas, grieves the loss of Christopher Elliot Grant “Kriss” Beckner, who passed away at their residence on December 9, 2025, at thirty-three years of age. Their peaceful departure, accompanied by their feline companion, Persephone, concluded a life characterized by genuineness, approachability, and a deep fidelity to their personal relationships.
Born July 10, 1992, in Oklahoma and reared in Wichita, Kansas, as one of four siblings, their formative years nurtured a distinct personal identity. A pivotal relocation to Arkansas in 2014 provided an environment where their authentic self could thrive, leading to profound connections and a supportive network within the LGBTQ community and elsewhere, which became integral to their experience.
Their vocational path included diverse positions that facilitated interpersonal engagement. They were employed at Barnes & Noble and Trader Joe’s, provided ridesharing services through Uber, completed grocery deliveries via Instacart, tended bar at the Town Pump, and most recently held a supervisory role at a Kroger storefront.
Central to their existence were the profound ties with family and chosen kin. They embarked on outdoor excursions such as camping and hiking with their sibling, Benji, including a three-year period of co-residence in Denver, Colorado, from 2021 until returning to Little Rock.
Creative evenings dedicated to crafts were valued moments shared with their sister, Shawna. Daily exchanges with their partner, Ryan, spanned topics from casual humor to explorations of spirituality and existence, frequently accompanied by shared dining and wine.
Their personal interests reflected a vibrant and inventive life, encompassing the acquisition of secondhand items for unique attire, designing jewelry, knitting, sewing adornments, painting, and illustrative work during leisure hours spent viewing preferred television series.
They sought tranquility in natural settings such as Devil’s Den in Arkansas, Red Rocks in Colorado, and Wyoming campgrounds, attended punk music performances, accumulated stuffed animals, and enjoyed preparing gluten-free cuisine paired with European red wines. These activities, often shared with loved ones, demonstrated their aptitude for deriving joy and fellowship from everyday experiences.
They were preceded in death by their grandmother, Grandma Beckner. They are survived by their brother, Benji; sister, Shawna; partner, Ryan; and an extensive circle of close friends who constituted their chosen family. Their enduring influence lies in the authenticity they maintained, the profound affection they readily offered, and their capacity to motivate others toward more open-hearted and considerate living.