Juanita Mae Garner

Juanita Garner, age 81 of Norman, and formerly of Lexington, passed away Saturday, January 4, 2025. Juanita Mae Combs was born February 28, 1943 in Wayne, Oklahoma, the oldest of six children born to Paul Levi Combs and Naomi Ruth (Phillips) Combs. The daughter of sharecroppers, she learned at a very young age the value of hard work. She was raised in Lexington and attended school there, graduating with the Bulldog Class of 1961. On June 8, 1962, she married her high school sweetheart, Bill Garner. As the wife of a career military man, she lived in various places throughout the United States and Germany. She often recalled the 23 addresses that their family called home, although she always considered Lexington her home. By 1981, they settled in Lexington. They were the proud parents of three children; sons Brad and Bryan and daughter Julie. Nita worked for the First State Bank in Lexington for a time, and then for the OK Department of Corrections. She worked at the Joseph Harp Correctional Facility for more than 23 years, retiring as a Unit Secretary. Nita was a busy body, always working and very intentional with her time. She enjoyed crafts of all kinds; painting, decoupage, sewing and ceramics brought her much joy. She also loved gardening, cooking and hosting holiday and family get-togethers. Nita enjoyed being the self-appointed family “Wedding Planner”, and she took great pride in that role and anything she was doing. She felt blessed to travel the world and visited many cities and countries including France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, Ireland, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Her greatest legacy was her faith. She was actively involved in church small groups, helped annually with Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir and was her Sunday School Classes’ Prayer List Coordinator. She cherished her family, especially her grandchildren. She will be dearly missed! She was preceded in death by: her parents, Paul and Naomi Combs and two sisters, Betty Cossey and Roberta Elmore. Nita is survived by: her husband Bill Garner of the home; daughter Julie Simeroth and husband Jason of Yukon; sons, Brad Garner of Moore and Bryan Garner and wife Allison of Oshkosh, WI; sister, Sheri Meeks and husband Randal of Lexington; two brothers, Don Combs and wife Sharon and Jim Combs and wife Mitzi, all of Lexington; 6 grandchildren, River Garner of OKC, Skyler Garner of Norman, Summer Simeroth and husband Kevin Ray of Yukon, USAF 2LT Dawson Simeroth of Vance AFB, Enid, Boden Garner of Tucson, AZ and Piper Garner of Oshkosh, WI; and a host of other family and friends. Funeral Services are scheduled for 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Lexington. Nita will be laid to rest at Ft. Sill National Cemetery.

Juanita Mae Garner

February 28, 1943 - January 4, 2025