Our History
The Cooper Funeral Home was founded in 1920 by the late Virgil D. Cooper. During the time Mr. and Mrs. Cooper owned the funeral home, it was located in three different buildings, the first two being on main street and finally they moved into the present location in 1934, which was formerly the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Wagoner.
The Cooper Funeral Home is the oldest funeral home in Ottawa County and has seen many renovations to remian modern and accessable. In the early 1970's, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper sold the funeral home to Joe and Sue Weatherford, who continued the traditon of the Cooper Funeral Home until 1990.
Following that acqusition, the funeral home became the Cooper-Althouse Funeral Home in which it remained until March of 2012 when Jason and Nicole Winters and Jeff and Jackie Brown purchased the funeral home, changing the name to the Brown -Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Once again, making it a locally owned and operated funeral home, focusing on unparralled service and a committment to the communities of Ottawa County. In honor of the legacy built by Mr. V.D. Cooper, the chapel will be named the "Cooper Memorial Chapel".
In February 2014 the Adcock Funeral Homes of Afton and Fairland were acquired, providing the opportunity to better serve the families of Afton and Fairland.
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Jason Winters Co-Owner & Funeral Director/Embalmer
Jason was raised in Miami and graduated from Miami High School in 1991. He then attended NEO A & M College, graduating in 1993 and continuing his education at the University of Central Oklahoma where he received his B.S. in Funeral Service. Jason began his carrer at the Cooper Funeral Home in the mid 1980's. He is married to Nicole (Rhodes) Winters, also a Miami native and they have two children. Jason and Nicole currently reside in Okmulgee where they co-own and operate the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home.
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Jeffery J Brown Co-Owner & Funeral Director / Embalmer
Born in Miami, Oklahoma to David and Kathy Brown, Jeff is the middle child of three. He has an older brother David and a younger sister Lacey. Jeff married Jackie (Fitzgibbon) a native of Fairland in 1997. They have one son, Avery who was born in 2003. Jeff graduated from Miami High School, graduated from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College with an Associates of Science and went on to the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond where he earned a Bachelors of Science majoring in funeral service. Jeff has spent many nights officiating sports since he was in the ninth grade, and retired from refereeing high school football after nineteen years in 2015. Jeff has already became very involved in the communities of Miami and Fairland he is a member of the Miami Rotary Club, the Miami Masonic Lodge, Grand Lake Shrine Club, the Past Chairman of the Board for Miami Area Chamber of Commerce. He is the past Vice Chair of the newly formed Miami Regional Chamber of Commerce. In Fairland Jeff is a member of Fairland Lions Club, Past Member and Past President of the Fairland Public Schools Enrichment Foundation and enjoyed coaching Avery's Little League Baseball team. He served as Governor of District II for the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association. In 2019 Jeff became a CLEET Certified Reserve Police Officer. He describes being a police officer as another way to give back to the community. Jackie teaches first grade at the Fairland Elementary. Avery is active Baseball, Football, Powerlifting and plays the tuba in the band at his school.
Jeff said “I take great pride in being able to help families in their time of need and I am so glad to have the opportunity to serve my hometown.” -
Brian Buchanan Funeral Director/Embalmer
Brian Buchanan was born and raised in Jay, Oklahoma, a graduate of Jay High School, he went on to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami and graduated Phi Theta Kappa. While there Brian was very active with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries. Brian then moved to Dallas and attended the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service where he served as Pi Sigma Eta Honor Fraternity president. While in Dallas he was also a member of the Texas Funeral Directors Association.
In July of 2004 Brian married Elizabeth Kay Wall, of Grove, Oklahoma. They live in Jay. Beth is a special education teacher for Grove Public Schools. In 2016 Beth and Brian welcomed their son Wade into the family. Brian is a Member Jay Masonic Lodge and attends Three Rivers Presbyterian Church where he serves as a deacon. In his free time The Buchanan's enjoys the outdoors, fishing and camping as well as going to baseball games and trips to the zoo. Brian is also an avid hunter and is member of the Miami Lion's Club. -
Tish Linn Funeral Service Associate
Tish was born and raised in North East Oklahoma and resides in Afton, where she has lived most of her life. She attended Afton High School and later NEO A&M College. She married Lonnie Linn and together they raised four daughters, Missy, Debbie, Brenda and Cathe. Tish has seven grandchildren. She enjoys getting together with family and friends, meeting new people, reading a good book and community activities in Afton and surrounding areas. Tish attends the First Assembly of God Church in Afton.
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Don Stephens Funeral Service Associate
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Kathy Brown Funeral Service Associate
Born in Heinzeville GA, at an Army Base Hospital. She grew up and graduated in Fairland Oklahoma. She married David Lee Brown a lifelong resident of Miami Oklahoma. They now reside in Miami.
After graduating college she worked as a health social worker for the areas Head Start programs and later worked as a prevention specialist for Partnership of Ottawa County Youth.
She and David have Mustang Ridge Ranch that keeps her busy with cattle, horses and a lab.
She has three children- David Dwain , Jeffery and Lacey. She has six beautiful grandchildren- Keenan, Ally, Avery, Colton, Addison and Jessalynn that she loves to spend time with. She and David attend the First Christian Church, Miami.
