Our Sister, Mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully after suffering from small vessel ischemic dementia (vascular dementia.)
Wanda was born October 13, 1939 in Carroll County Missouri, the only daughter of Blanche Mae Pollard and William Herschell Winfrey. Her family moved to Carrollton, MO where she went to grade school and graduated from Carrollton High school, she was a cheerleader, and cheer captain. She was always proud to show off her 8th grade graduation picture. Her favorite teacher was Miss Ida Crel, who set her on the path of conservatism, and love of country. She was also a loyal patriot, and was proud to be an American. She knew very well the importance of the Constitution and the founding of our great nation. She was very proud of her home state of Missouri, and loved living so close to many of the historic sights of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was a voracious reader and loved history.
Wanda was a devoted woman of faith. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints in 1960, and was endowed in the Mesa Arizona temple. She served in many ward and stake callings throughout her life, including Primary, Relief Society, and her favorite callings were early morning seminary teacher and St. Louis temple worker. She enjoyed her many years of serving in the temple, where she would travel monthly to fulfill her calling. The temple was the most important part of her life.
She began her teaching career in Arizona, where she lived with her young family. She received her baccalaureate degree from Arizona State University. She was a talented and gifted teacher. She taught grade school, and children with learning disabilities. She earned her Master’s and Specialist’s degrees in Special Education from the University of Central Missouri. She retired as the Assistant Superintendent for the Missouri Department of Education. Even in her later years, many people enjoyed talking with her because they could tell she was a fine and well educated lady.
Over the course of her life she was able to have many adventures and travel. She lived in New Zealand for a time, traveled to Ireland, cruised Alaska, skied in Colorado, and rafted the Grand Canyon. She enjoyed taking trips with her girlfriends, and traveling to visit family.
One of her favorite hobbies, and something she was well known for, was her love of genealogy and family history. She would travel to Salt Lake City, UT to conduct research in the genealogy library. She would scour courthouse documents for family records, and logged countless hours at the microfiche machines. There were many relatives on the other side who happily greeted Wanda when she passed through the veil. Including her mom, beloved father, and her guardian angel Uncle Jim. Also, her favorite grandmother, Sephronia Jane Horn Pollard, who was first to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Animals were always a part of her life and she was rarely without a pet. Her favorites were her Scottish Terriers.She loved watching birds, and knew about every species in Missouri. She could shoot a squirrel at 100 yards from the porch, without a problem.
Wanda was preceded in death by her parents William Herschell Winfrey and Balnche Mae Pollard. Stepfather Ercel Cary, and brother Jerry Winfrey. She is survived by her brother, Hershell (Cindy) Winfrey, step sister, Judie (John) Stalter; and children Mark Meagher, Matthew (Holly) Meagher, Jodi (Heath) Karr, and Heather (Darin) Lynn. She leaves behind 7 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
In lieu of flowers, please do an act of kindness, call your mother, visit the elderly, buy lunch for a friend, take your wife to dinner, buy your grandkids ice cream, look up a relative and visit them, take family names to the temple, honor the Constitution, vote for a conservitve; this would honor her more than anything.
A viewing will be held on Saturday May, 7th at 10:00 a.m. at the Bittiker Mortuary located at 1201 US-65, Carrollton, MO 64633. 11:00 a.m.Memorial service to follow. She will be laid to rest next to her family in the Wharton Cemetery in Bosworth, Carroll County, Missouri.
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