Karen E Winn

June 24, 1941 – November 6, 2024

Karen Elizabeth “Kay” Winn (83), formerly of Big Spring, passed into the arms of her Lord peacefully on November 6, 2024, under hospice care at The Pointe memory care in St. Petersburg, FL. She was preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years (Curtis) and her only sibling (Rita). Kay is survived by her three sons: Scott Winn of Florida, Mark Winn of Texas, and Matthew Winn of Georgia. She leaves behind the legacy of 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Kay was born on June 24, 1941, in Mason City, Iowa to Leslie Groff and Gladys Baker Groff. She grew up, married, and had all three of her children in suburban Los Angeles, CA. Curtis and Kay moved to Big Spring with their three sons in 1970, rejoining several generations of the extended Winn family who resided in the area. She completed her Physician’s Assistant (PA) degree from Howard College in Big Spring, then later lived in Clifton, TX and Seguin, TX before returning to Big Spring in 2014.

Kay enjoyed dancing in her youth, playing the piano and organ, singing in the church choir, as well as the crafts of knitting and crocheting. Her Christian faith was important throughout her life and her final church home was the First Baptist Church of Coahoma, TX.

Kay’s professional career included roles as office manager, physician’s assistant, executive director of an independent living facility, assistant hospital administrator, as well as owner of several businesses in the plumbing, medical gas, and training fields. This career included owning and operating McKinney A-1 Plumbing in Big Spring during the 1970’s with Curtis. Kay was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star (OES), served as area president of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), and was later elected to the local school board in Clifton, TX.

In spite of being a relatively small woman with much larger sons, she always assured them she could still “put you over my knee” even in her elder years—and they believed her. After Curtis passed in 2015, care through her dementia progression was shared for different periods by her three sons and their families in Texas, Georgia, then Florida.

Kay’s life will be celebrated by family & friends at 2:30 pm on Saturday, December 14th in the Chapel at Mt Olive Cemetery in Big Spring, TX.