Winnafred L. ‘Winnie’ Cummons

Posted on August 13, 2025

Winnafred L. “Winnie” Cummons, 95, of Perry passed away Monday, July 28, 2025 at her home.

She was born July 18, 1930, in North Dakota, the daughter of Richard and Marie Haddock Cummons, who preceded her in death.

Surviving are: her sons, Ritch Cushway and his wife, Lois, of Saline, Mich., and Warren Steven Cushway of Bay City, Mich.; daughter, Erika Binter Hale and her husband, Hugh, of Fernandina Beach; brother, Don “Sonny” Cummons; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: two sisters, Georgia “Georgie” Preddy and Frankie Bristow; three brothers, Clarence “Chris” Cummons, Ray “Obie” Cummons and Charles Lawmaster; and two husbands, Warren Cushway and William “Bill” Binter.

Nicknames were common in her family, where she was known as “Boots. ”

Winnie’s family returned home to Cassville, Mo., in 1930 and she lived in Cassville until her teens. Later she lived in Bay City, Mich., Milwaukee, Wisc., and Perry.

She attended school in Cassville and Mt. Vernon, Mo.

Winnie owned and operated a health food store for many years and achieved credentials in nutrition management.

She also worked in a variety of rolesm including waitress, hostess, leasing management, fashion modeling, retail and housekeeping.

She also worked side by side with her husbands in a variety of small business ventures.

She loved gardening, spreading the word of God and helping people learn about nutrition.

Winnie attended Evangel Christian Fellowship in Perry.

She loved popular music and had a great singing voice.

She raised her children to love reading, sharing stories and poetry with them.

She raised them to be self-confident and independent.

She will also be missed by countless friends who knew and loved her.