Jeanette Winfree

Jeanette Winfree passed away on August 21, 2007 after a long illness. She was born and raised in Orange, Texas, the daughter of the late Laurence and Gladys Winfree. Jeanette graduated from Stark High School in 1956. She had a lifelong love of horses and competed in rodeos during her youth. She graduated from Sam Houston State University, followed by a move to Galveston, where she obtained a second degree in physical therapy in 1961 from The University of Texas Medical Branch . She also received her Masters degree from Stephen F. Austin University. Jeanette was an entrepreneur at heart, having learned early from her father, who gave her responsibility for running the family meat market at the age of 16. She used this business acumen to open a private practice in physical therapy in 1964, one of the very first woman-owned private practices in the country at that time.
Jeanette was one of the first in the nation to realize the tremendous value of exercise and physical fitness for the elderly. In 1966 she established a women?s fitness program in the YMCA and in that same year established the Medicare home health program for the city of Galveston. In the 1980?s she was instrumental in developing a therapeutic horseback riding program for brain injured individuals. During her career, she provided quality care to generations of Galvestonians and was known for her ethical, caring practice. She mentored hundreds of students and colleagues who sought her clinical and management expertise. She served her profession from the local to the national and international levels through the American Physical Therapy Association and World Confederation for Physical Therapy. To honor her dedication and service, the Texas Physical Therapy Association established a Jeanette Winfree Service Award which is given annually to a physical therapist who embodies the standard of service which Jeanette set.
In recognition of her tremendous influence, a group of alumni and friends are honoring Jeanette?s unrelenting service to the profession, school and community by creating at UTMB the Jeanette Winfree Distinguished Professorship in Physical Therapy.
Jeanette is survived by her colleague and partner of many years, Madeleine Baker; her brother Lester ?Buckshot? Winfree and wife Barbara, her beloved nieces Leslie Winfree Holtkamp and her husband Roger, Elizabeth Winfree Neely and her husband Paul, nephew Will Winfree and his wife Carol, and their families. She is also survived by her beloved aunt, Ellen Ratcliff. The following family members will serve as pall bearers Will Winfree, Jesse Winfree, Paul Neely, Roger Holtkamp, Kirk Dillard and Justin Dillard. Funeral services for Jeanette will be held at the Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 25. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Friday evening, August 24. Donations in lieu of flowers may be directed to the Jeanette Winfree Distinguished Professorship Fund at UTMB in Galveston. Donations should be sent to: Office of University of Advancement, UTMB 301 University Blvd. Galveston, TX 77555-0831, or to the Musical Organ fund at Winfree Baptist Church, 19525 Hwy 62 South Orange, TX 77630.