Lou Ellen McGaha

1937 - 2025

Lou Ellen McGaha, 88, was born on May 31, 1937, to Harland Arthur and Mozelle (Kirkham) Winnard in Oklahoma City. Lou passed away on December 7, 2025.

Lou was a hardworking woman who valued discipline and practicality. She played basketball and attended high school in Blanchard. In 1955, she married Donald Ray McGaha. The couple lived in Oklahoma City and Del City before moving to Dibble in the mid-1960s, where they established lasting roots.

Lou worked for many years in the newspaper industry, including the Noble News and the Lexington Sun, and she retired from the Norman Transcript in 1997. Her family farmed watermelons, and she sold them throughout the 1980s. She also grew cantaloupe and along with a vegetable garden that always included tomatoes.

She was a skilled seamstress who enjoyed knitting and crocheting, often making rugs and potholders. One of her hobbies she enjoyed was painting, which was a family talent.  Lou could be stern, and some saw her as mean, but she was usually trying to help in her own straightforward way. She also enjoyed garage sales and looking for a good bargain.

Lou is survived by her son Terry McGaha and wife Christiane Burgess of Dibble; daughters Janie and husband Rick Garner of Prague, and Donna McGaha of Nevada; sisters Linda Milburn and Cheryl Montoney; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceded in death by her parents; husband Donald Ray McGaha; son David Ray McGaha; brothers Dale Winnard and Robert Winnard; sisters Rita Dennis and Betty Culpepper.

A memorial service is scheduled Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Eisenhour Funeral Home, 2500 N Council Ave, Blanchard, OK. Arrangements are under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home of Blanchard. Online obituary and guestbook are available at www.eisenhourfh.com.