Winifred (Winnie) Jeffus Obituary (1918

Winifred Wacker Jeffus went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, May 2nd, 2011 at the Morton County Care Center in Elkhart, KS. She was born on November 16th, 1918 in Hutchinson, Kansas. She was the middle child born to Henry William Wacker & Elgie Lyon Wacker. Her family, which also included a brother, Henry, Jr. and a sister, Ruth (Miller), moved to Guymon in the summer of 1925 in their model "T" Ford. In the fall, Henry Jr. started to 6th grade and Winnie started 2nd grade at what is now Academy Grade School. It was the only grade school in Guymon at that time. - Mildred Moore was her teacher. The family attended the First Christian Church where her mother taught Sunday school. Winnie later played the piano (she always said "not very well") and also taught Sunday school for many years. Winnie graduated from Guymon High School with the class of 1936. She was a member of the Pep Club and always said that the members had to wear ugly sweaters and high heel shoes to the games. If they won a game, they had to march in their high heel shoes down Main Street! They also had to wear these high heel shoes to school and the class ahead of them wore hats to school & left them on all day! Winnie attended college for 2 years at Panhandle Agricultural and Mechanical College (now known as Oklahoma Panhandle State University) following High school. A carload of students drove to Goodwell everyday on an unpaved road. At that time, room, board and tuition totaled $18 a month. During the months of March and April, her dad thought the dust storms were so dangerous that they spent those months living in Goodwell. Attending college was a big financial strain on her family, so her father wouldn't let her pay the bill until it was posted on the bulletin board in the hall of the Administration building - this was a very embarrassing experience for her! In 1940, her future husband, Worth Jeffus, went to Fort Sill as a one-year trainee in the Army. When war was declared, everyone had to serve for the duration plus six months. They were united in marriage on October 9th, 1941, at her parents' house. After the wedding, Winnie traveled wherever the Army took Worth, when possible. They lived at Aberdeen, Maryland, El Paso, Texas, and Arcadia, California. Worth was gone overseas for more than 2 years and she wasn't allowed to go with him at that point. When Worth was discharged after 5 years, they moved to Pampa, Texas. Worth worked for Gulf Research as a surveyor on a seismograph crew. Their first son, Larry Worth, was born on October 15, 1946, in Pampa. In 1947, they came to Guymon for the Pioneer Days celebration. They had such a good time and saw so many old friends. They went to the dances and stayed up all night finally finishing off with breakfast with Ed and Mary Nash. Later that year, they moved back to Guymon so Worth could return to the farming industry. In 1950, their second son, James Hal, was born. The good Lord took him from them in December of 1974. In 1952, they joined the First Presbyterian Church where Winnie taught 2nd grade Sunday school for 5 years and adult ladies class for 13 years. Later in life, she was the Church librarian for at least 15 years. Winnie worked on various civic committees within the community. Her first activity outside the church was as an assistant Cub Scout leader. She also worked with the hospital auxiliary, the Artists' Studio Northwest Club, P.E.O. of which she was a 50 year + member, and the Presbyterian Hope Circle. Winnie developed a passion for painting in the early 1970's. A class was being held at Ann Thom's country home in Gruver, TX. She only attended this workshop because Louie Remmel and Mickey Nash, her friends since childhood, were going too. Mrs. Thom was a wonderful woman and teacher. She encouraged Winnie to use oils. Another wonderful artist, Stephan Kramer, told her to never paint anything but flowers. Her favorite mediums were: oils, watercolors and pastels. She was a charter member of the Northwest Artist Association. Winnie attended many art shows in Guymon, Liberal, Greensburg and Elkhart, KS. She also put on some workshops in Goodwell and Hooker, OK as well as Hugoton, KS with Louie Remmel. Winnie would hold fundraisers in her home for the Presbyterian Youth groups by displaying her paintings for sale and donating all the money to the Youth. One of her greatest enjoyments was getting to know more people all the time and time spent with family. She enjoyed her many games of bridge played with numerous bridge clubs. Her very favorite pastime was shopping. Almost every Friday was spent shopping in either Gruver, Spearman or Amarillo, TX with granddaughter Elgie, or friends Charlotte Dixon and Mickey Nash. What a grand time everyone always had on shopping trips with Winnie! Winnie will always be remembered as the "Purple" lady! She seldom left the house without wearing a beautiful purple outfit. How appropriate that Winnie passed away the first week of May. She was from a true pioneer family and was honored as Pioneer Queen in 1999. The celebration here will not compare to the celebration in heaven. Winnie is survived by a son, Larry Jeffus, of Guymon, 5 grandchildren: Paula Everett and husband Chet of Stratford, TX, Elgie Davis of Guymon, Brooke Jeffus and Jancy Jeffus of Grandfield, OK and Blaine Jeffus of Guymon. She was also blessed with great-grandchildren: Madison & Mercedes Davis of Guymon and Hunter & Bethany Everett of Stratford, as well as special great-grandsons, Jonathan, Anthony & Michael Davis. Winnie is also survived by nieces, Barbara Paslay and husband Michael of Brentwood, TN, Connie Jeffus of Grapevine, TX, Joan Connelly and husband Pat of Valencia, CA, and Kathryn Jeffus of New York, NY, Ginger Wacker of Copperas Cove, TX., Amber Wacker of Northglenn, CO and Carol Wacker of Guymon, nephews, Randy Miller and wife Glenda of Brentwood, TN, and Kenneth Jeffus of Thibodaux, LA, and a special cousin Charlene Gould & husband Rick of Overland Park, KS. Winnie was preceded in death by her husband of almost 67 years, in 2008, her sister, Ruth Miller, and brother, Henry Wacker, Jr. Visitation will be at the Henson-Novak Funeral Home on Sunday evening, 6-8:00 PM and all day Monday, 9AM-8:00PM. The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 6-8:00 PM. Graveside services will be Tuesday, May 10th, 1:30 PM at Elmhurst Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at 2:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 310 NW 7th Street, Guymon with Pastor Deborah Hollifield officiating. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the Presbyterian Church LOGOS or a charity of your choice, in care of Henson-Novak Funeral Directors, P.O. Box 1306, Guymon, OK 73942.