Lori Ann Winters

Lori Ann Winters, life-long SW Oklahoman, passed away unexpectedly at her home the morning of Friday, October 11, 2024. The family will formally greet friends from 5:00 – 8:00 PM on Tuesday, October 15th. Services for Ms. Winters will be at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, October 16th at the Elm and Hudson Church of Christ with Preacher Daniel Ingram and Warren Church of Christ Preacher Ron Suiter officiating. Burial will immediately follow at the Warren Cemetery under the direction of Kincannon Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Born to Ralph William and Mary Jo (Card) Winters in Altus on January 28, 1967, Lori Ann, lovingly known as Ann, was raised on the Centennial, family farm north of Warren with her brothers, Gary, Mike, and Richard. With three older brothers there is no wonder that she grew up knowing how to care for cattle, breed registered dogs, fix fences, and hunt deer and turkeys. She attended school and graduated from Navajo High School where she was actively involved in 4-H and was an honoree for the Outstanding County 4-H Hall of Fame her senior year. Ann was a life-long member of the Warren Church of Christ where she was baptized and was always willing to serve others. It is said that she inherited the gift of ‘visiting’ with people of all ages, from her father, Ralph.

After high school Ann continued her love for education at Western Oklahoma State College where she obtained an associate degree. She went on to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Her teaching career began with positions at Roosevelt School, Southside School, and later at Navajo School where she accepted a full-time faculty position in 1998. Like most in the world of education, Ann had many roles including school bus driver. She taught multiple generations of youth in various classrooms during her tenure. A few of her students describe her no-nonsense classroom rules, quick wit, and genuine care for them after graduation the very essence of Ms. Winters. Her expectations were high for those she taught, and her grace knew no bounds. Her teaching went beyond the classroom curriculum and her assigned students. Ann was always willing to assist anyone in the student body as well as her faculty peers.

Ann was an avid animal lover and enjoyed fishing, hiking, arrowhead hunting, and collecting various rocks. Her true passion was spent time with nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She poured into them and spent her life nurturing and loving them as her own. To some she was more like a grandma than an aunt. 

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Mary Jo. Her kindred spirit will live on in her brothers, Gary Winters and wife, Ida Fay, Mike Winters, and Richard Winters and wife, Susan; nephews and nieces, Weston, Warren, Russell, Rachel, Joann, Dana, and David; numerous great nephews and nieces; an abundance of Navajo students; and many friends.

The family humbly requests that memorials in Ms. Winter’s name be made to the Warren Cemetery - P.O. Box 5, Blair, OK 73526, the Warren Fire Department - P.O. Box 446, Blair, OK 73526, or the Navajo School Foundation - 15695 SCR 210, Altus, OK 73521. Online tributes may be made at www.kincannonfuneralhome.com. The service livestream may be viewed at https://youtu.be/gRLOWHhoWuA.