Leoti, Kansas—Wynona Jane (Pickinpaugh) Sims, 91, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on February 3, 2021, at the Wichita County Long Term Care in Leoti, KS. She was born May 31, 1929, to Galen and Bertha (Spellman) Pickinpaugh in Orin, Wyoming. She attended school in Shawnee and Douglas, Wyoming. In 1946, her mother, Bertha, married her stepfather, William Harry Watson, and the family moved to Fowler, Colorado, where Wynona attended the High School.
On December 25, 1948, she married James Edward Sims in Fowler, CO. James and Wynona had five children, Warren James, Linda Darlene, Duane Ira, David Lee, and Nancy Jo. They provided for their family by farming, moving to Leoti, KS, in 1956- 1969, where they rented ground from Chris Rayberg west of Leoti. In 1969, they purchased ground in Wallace County and moved to Sharon Springs, KS, where they remained until their retirement in 1986 when they moved back to Fowler, CO. In 2015, Wynona moved back to Leoti, KS to be close to family.
Wynona was a remarkable woman who could do just about anything she set her mind to. She played a major role in running the farm with James, doing everything from driving tractor or truck as needed, running for parts (sometimes in the middle of the night), changing irrigation water, and hoeing the beets and beans. Later, in Sharon Springs, James and Wynona had farm animals, including horses, cows, pigs, and chickens. Wynona always had a large garden and did a lot of canning and freezing of food to provide for their family. She made her own butter and was an amazing cook, always ready and able to provide a meal in a short amount of time.
Wynona loved to sew and made all of her family’s clothes, including suits for her husband and sons. One of her biggest loves was to provide any new baby in the family with a whole array of clothes. She loved making baby clothes and blankets. Her sewing was not limited to clothes as she re-upholstered many truck and pickup seats, always making her own patterns. One even included a bucking bronc on the back of the seat.
She also was an artist, following in her mother’s footsteps, and loved to paint. Her favorite thing to paint was old used saw blades, but she painted on just about anything – shovels, barrels, old kettles, an old oil can, rocks, cream cans, and even a knot in a piece of wood.
Wynona and James were very active members of their different churches and raised their children in a Christian home. She taught Sunday School, Bible classes, and Vacation Bible School every year while her children were growing up. She also was a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader in Leoti while her children were involved there. In Sharon Springs, Wynona worked as a Certified Nurse’s Aide and as a cook at the Long Term Care. She was very proud of her time spent helping others.
Her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren were all so special to Wynona. She loved talking and sharing about each and every one of them. It really made her day to hear some news about her “grands.” Her many nieces and nephews loved spending time in the summer at Aunt Wynona and Uncle James, where they were able to ride horses and experience the “farm life”.
Wynona was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather; her three brothers; Arlie Galen, Ira, and Charles; her husband, James; one son, Warren James; two grandsons, Chad William and Evan Sims; one granddaughter, Tahnee Lynn; and one greatgranddaughter, Teresa Ranea.
Wynona is survived by Linda Duphorne (Daniel) Leoti, KS; Duane Sims (Meika) Elko, NV; David Sims (Melinda) Fort Morgan, CO; Nancy Schartz (Weston) Wichita, KS; and her many grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Memorials in honor of Wynona may be made to the Gideon’s International through the Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 11th at West Assembly of God; 406 W. Eugene; Fowler, CO 81039, with Pastor Darryl Johnson officiating. Interment will be in the Fowler Cemetery, Fowler, CO.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ford-Ustick Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com.
