Winona Inez Fuchs

Winona Inez Fuchs went to be with her Lord and Savior Sunday, December 22, 2019. Visitation with family and friends was held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 26, at Nobles Funeral Chapel. A celebration of her life was 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 27, at First Baptist Church of Navasota. Reverend Chad McMillan officiated. A private family interment at Earthman’s Resthaven Cemetery followed. Arrangements were under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel.

Winona was born December 2, 1927 in Houston Texas to Leslie and Irene Winslow. She graduated from Klein High school in 1944. She met her future husband, O’Jay Fuchs, at a dance. After a few winks, Winona got her first dance which became the first of many and a lifetime of love. They were married on November 29, 1947 in Tomball, Texas. Shortly after they married, they decided to go into the dairy business. In 1952 and 1955 their two daughters, Joy and Sheilah, were born. 

Winona enjoyed sewing clothes for her girls and was involved in all of their school activities. They were her pride and joy. In 1962, they moved to Navasota where they continued to reside. She and O’Jay worked together milking cows until they sold the dairy in 1976. From this point on, they raised range cattle. Not only did she work hard on the dairy with O’Jay, but she also was a wonderful homemaker and had a very giving heart. Winona said, “We could not have had a better life together.” They were married for 70 wonderful years.

As a child, Winona was a daddy’s girl and loved the outdoors. Her family always had horses.

Not only did she love to ride with friends and family, she even rode as a jockey in horse races.

As young girl, Winona was a spunky thing, and always stood up for those who didn’t stand up for

themselves. She wasn’t afraid to let people know she meant business.

Everyone who knew Winona knew she loved to quilt and sew. She loved making quilts for her

shows, her home, and family. She could sew just about anything! Winona was very talented and her work was intricate and well thought out. She put her time and heart into anything she created, whether it was beautiful quilts, making clothes for her family and grandchildren, or even clothes for their dolls. She also enjoyed working in her flowerbeds and deer hunting. She and O’Jay enjoyed the outdoors and had an adventurous life together. She was a loyal and loving wife, and loved O’Jay deeply. Some knew her as a strong-willed, tough woman, but Winona had a heart full of compassion. She was full of light and laughter, and loved telling intriguing stories from her past.

Winona was the best “Meme”, named by her oldest granddaughter Julie, to her granddaughters,

and great-grandkids. She made them feel special by stuffing them with good food and

memorable stories. Winona loved playing outside with them, taking them fishing, catching barn

cats, finding locust shells, and making stone soup. As her grand-daughters got older she

enjoyed teaching several of them how to sew and cook some of her specialties. She gave them

advice on life, encouraged them, and shared the bold and honest truth. She always enjoyed

seeing her great-grandkids. Winona gave them her time, her enthusiasm, and her heart. She had a heart for family, and serving others, as Jesus did. This shined brightly in her life!

Winona was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie and Irene Winslow; sisters; Opal Rice,

Joy Lee Winters, and Mickey Hansen; brother, Leslie “Bubba” Winslow and his wife

Margaret.

She is survived by her two daughters, Joy Smith and husband Richard, and Sheilah

Prihoda and husband C.H. Prihoda, Jr.; her six granddaughters, Julie Smith-Cunningham, Jennifer Cusimano and husband Kelly, Kristal Reid and husband Elliott, Lindsey Prihoda, Haley Sechelski and husband Matthew, and Abbey Mahoney and husband Bryan; along with eleven great-grandchildren, Justin and Michael McCoy, Kinley, Lila, and Kylan Cusimano, Nicholas McCann, Blake, Jaydon, and Avalyn Reid, and Portland and Denver Sechelski.

The family would like to thank Winona’s doctors, nurses, Encompass Home Health Care

services, and caregivers Debra Bookman, Dorothy Sauls, Carrie Tussell, and Shaunda Brown,

for all of their care and dedication.  

You are invited to leave kind words and fond memories at www.noblesfuneral.com.