Winnifred Lee Pierce Courtney

Winnifred Lee Pierce Courtney, 93, was welcomed into her heavenly home on Sunday, November 24, 2024, where she was greeted at the gates by her husband, son and daughter who had gone on before her. Winnifred (Winnie) died at The Oaks Memory Care facility in Texarkana, Texas. She was born March 27, 1931 in McCamey, Texas to Myrtie Lee & Albert Benjamin Pierce. She was preceded in death by her husband, Perry O’Neal (Neal) Courtney, son Steven Courtney, daughter Peri Courtney Sprague, four brothers: Walton Pierce, James Pierce, Charles Pierce, J.B. Pierce, and four sisters: Doris Bryan, J Nell Cigainero, Martha Crowther and Catherine Stevens. Winnie is survived by one daughter, Lisa Courtney Liles of Texarkana, TX; one sister, Lois Paris of Corpus Christi, TX; one daughter-in-law Karen Courtney Schmidt (Steve) of Flower Mound, TX; one son-in-law Mark Sprague of Houston, TX; four grandchildren: Tyler Courtney (Megan) of Fort Worth, TX; Michaelyn Liles Marracino (Torin) of Texarkana, TX; Lindsay Courtney (Danielle Sicotte) of Dallas, TX; Jordan Liles (Candace) of Foreman, AR; and two great-granddaughers: Brynleigh Marracino and Cameron Courtney. Winnie also leaves behind many wonderful nieces, nephews, great friends and care providers whom the family is most grateful for.

Winnie was a 1949 graduate of Texas High School and married her beloved Neal in 1954. They would then be happily married for 61 years. Initially after marriage, Winnie became a housewife and then a devoted mother, where she was actively involved in her children’s activities. When her children grew of school-age, she went to work for Texarkana Independent School District for over 25 years, before she retired not once, but returned as a part-time employee and finally retired for good the second time. She loved her Texas tigers! Winnie was a member of First Baptist Church Texarkana where she was a faithful and dedicated servant of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Without a doubt, Winnie will always be remembered, loved, and respected as an unwavering sister, wife, mother, Nana, and friend.

Arrangements to celebrate the life of Winnie Courtney will be held on Sunday, December 1, 2024 under the direction of East Funeral Home-Downtown. Visitation will begin at 1:00 P.M., followed by a celebration service at 2:00, with the graveside service at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Operation Christmas Child (samaritanspurse.org) as that was one of Mrs. Winnie’s favorite community projects, or to the Legacy Brain Foundation (legacybrainfoundation.org) in memory of her late son and daughter.

Online tributes can be posted at www.eastfuneralhome.com.