History & Staff

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.

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, 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 currently attending college.

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.”

Mike Doner Funeral Director and Embalmer

Mike graduated Commerce High School in 1967, NEO A&M College in 1974 and Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1975. He is married to Doris Ray of Miami, Oklahoma and they have two daughters. They also reside in Bernice, Oklahoma.

Tyler S. Johnson Funeral Director/Embalmer Apprentice

Tyler was born in Miami, Oklahoma to Shawn and Michelle Johnson. Tyler grew up in Grove, Oklahoma and graduated from Grove High School.
Tyler attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma where he received his Associate’s degree in Natural Resources and Ecology Management. He then moved to Weatherford, Oklahoma to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Wildlife Law Enforcement.
Tyler worked in law enforcement serving the Ottawa County community for four years prior to working for Brown-Winters Funeral Home. He married his wife Jordan Johnson in 2021 and lives in Commerce, Oklahoma with his fur baby Colt. His hobbies include riding his motorcycle and fishing.
Tyler is currently attending Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and is working to become a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He started his apprenticeship in the fall of 2021.

Shannon C Epperson Office Administrator

Shannon was born in Joplin, Missouri, and a life-long resident of Miami, Oklahoma. She is a 1991 graduate of Miami High School and 1993 graduate of NEO A&M College with an associate degree in Legal Secretary. Shannon is happily married to her husband, Mike Epperson, from Commerce, Oklahoma. They married in 1996 and currently reside in Miami, Oklahoma. They also have a boxer dog that they call their child, and his name is Ben. Shannon is community minded and has great pride in her hometown, Miami, Oklahoma. She was the Administrative Assistant for the Miami Area Economic Development Service, Inc. for 22 years until she joined our family at Brown-Winters Funeral Home in December 2021. Shannon enjoys spending time with her husband in the outdoors, hunting, fishing, going to the lake, and photography. Shannon also has a soft heart for animals. She loves her family and enjoys making people smile.

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.

Don Stephens Funeral Service Associate

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.

Gary Richardson Funeral Associate

Gary was born in Joplin, Missouri. He is a graduate of Joplin High School and a graduate of Missouri Southern State University with a bachelor’s degree. He furthered his education at Bethany Seminary in Dother, Alabama with a master’s degree and a Doctorate degree in Ministry. He was married for 54 years to Ruthie, she passed away in 2019. He is currently married to Terry Strait, they married in June of 2021. He and Ruthie have five children. He has been a Pastor for over 56 years and currently Pastors at “Living Hope Baptist” in Welch, Oklahoma. Gary considers his work at Brown-Winters Funeral Home as an extension of his ministry.

Trey Martin Funeral Associate

Trey was born in Joplin, Missouri to Mike Martin and Kristy Chandler Berger in 2002. He grew up in the Fairland area and graduated from Fairland High School in May 2021. Growing up, Trey loved playing basketball, baseball and football. Trey is currently attending NEO A&M College with plans of being a state trooper. He attends and is very active at Miami First Assembly of God Church. Trey loves going on mission trips to Chicago and the Dominican Republic. Trey’s hobbies include hunting, fishing, and mowing. In his free time, he loves to spend time with family, hang out with friends, and go on ride-a-longs with Highway Patrolmen. Trey values getting to help and serve people in their time of grief.

Lane Tudor Funeral Associate

Lane was born to Mike Tudor and Tasha Kirkwood Starr in Joplin, Missouri. Lane grew up in the Fairland area and was an athlete. He played basketball, football, and baseball and is a graduate from Fairland High School. Lane is currently attending NEO A&M College with plans on becoming a game warden. In Lanes free time he enjoys working out, hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors. Lane’s favorite memory of high school was competing on the fishing team. He also takes pride in the funeral homes in keeping the yards looking pretty and the vehicles clean.