Carisa Shawn Winters

Carisa Shawn Winters, age 48, died August 22, 2008 at her home in The Colony, Texas. Carisa was born January 18, 1960 in El Reno, Oklahoma to the two best parents in the world. Through their love and raising, she always believed she could do anything she set her mind to accomplish. Carisa never married because she never found someone close enough to her father and her brothers that would enrich her life, well, there were 2 others, but they were married to her soul sisters and hence off- limits. Carisa had a varied and exciting working career. After graduating with a Computer Science major and Mathematics minor from Oklahoma State University the best darn school in the state, world, nation she moved to Dallas, Texas where she worked for Texas Utilities for 10+ years doing exciting project work with very smart people and meeting her 3 soul sisters, Fran Connell, Tracy Peterson, and Sylvia Flores. And one other comrade in arms from Boston ugh, Lynne O''Bryan. Upon leaving Texas Utilities, Carisa went to work for MCI in Colorado Springs for 5 years. There she had a better work life balance and took up Mountain Biking, Hiking, Rafting and enjoying the Pikes Peak Area. In 1998, Carisa moved back to Dallas/Ft. Worth and telecommuted for 2 years. In 1999 thru 2001 Carisa was a consultant for Mirage Resorts in Vegas, Pennzoil in Houston, Nortel in Richardson and assorted others. It was during this time that she discovered she was a company girl, and in April of 2002 began a contract to hire job at JC Penney in Plano, which turned in to the job of her dreams. In 2007 Carisa was promoted to the title of Business Analyst, which she felt was her career definition. She loved being a Business Analyst and working with her I.T. team and business community. Carisa is preceded in death by her mother, Eva Lou Winters. Surviving Carisa is her father, Bob Winters, of Alamo, Texas, and her step-mother, Martha. Her brother, Jeff Winters, of Harrah, along with his wife, Jane, and children, Jayma, of London, Jordan, of Tahlequah, Jacob, of Harrah, and Joshua, of Harrah. Her brother, Craig Winters, of Tulsa, along with his wife, Shelley, and children, Bailey, of Tulsa, and Brenden, of Tulsa. Numerous aunts and cousins also surive Carisa. Her soul sisters survive her. They are, Fran Connell of Dallas, husband Mike, and children, Katie and Sarah. Tracy Peterson of Omaha, Nebraska, husband Bryan, and children, Kyle godson, Laura, and Hanna. Sylvia Flores of Hurst, Texas. And last, but not least, friends since the tender age of 12 and still friends even after rooming together in college Ginger Smith Eckart and her husband Michael. Her very first day in Harrah, late May of 1972 – Carisa met her oldest, dearest friend, and it has persevered for almost 40 years. Memorial contributions should be made to the North Texas Susan G. Komen Foundation – www.komennorthtexas.org in memory of Carisa S. Winters. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, August 30, 2008 at Memory Lane Cemetery, Harrah, Oklahoma. Services are under the direction of Smith-Parks Funeral Service, Harrah, OK.