Irene Winifred (Standing) Dunn

Irene (Standing) Dunn departed this life September 29, 2020 at the age of 95 years. She was born in Iowa, April 19, 1925, to Charles and Emma Standing, then raised in Southern California. Irene graduated from UCLA and became an Oklahoman for life after meeting and marrying Laurence Dunn in August 1947. After his death she moved to Parkview Pointe in Laverne then was a brief resident at Western Skilled Nursing in Buffalo at the time of her death.

Mrs. Dunn, as she was affectionately called by her students in Gate and Buffalo, was known for her innovative and compassionate teaching styles. She was honored as Teacher of the Year and was recognized in The Daily Oklahoman for her creative ‘interactive’ learning model for the study of the Pilgrims arrival, long before the term entered modern day usage. Her Pilgrim Day studies for second-graders is still remembered by former students and used by her granddaughter Kellie Badley’s class in Laverne.

Irene was a teacher and writer from the time of her birth. She wrote poems for her family, she printed stories of witticisms and musings from her children and grandchildren, and compiled them into booklets for each of them. She taught Sunday School and was always sharing her natural born talents as teacher, baker, cook and hostess to her extended family and friends, who became ‘family’ once they entered her home. Irene was not only beloved by her students but was a favorite ‘Aunt Irene’ to many many nephews and nieces in the Standing and Dunn families.

After retiring from a 25-year teaching career Irene and Laurence enjoyed travels to visit family, friends and their children in remote places like Stebbins, AK or Muscat, Oman. They took many trips to family reunions in Iowa, often joining her three sisters and spouses as they remained quite close. 40th, 50th and 60th anniversary trips were celebrated with her younger sister and brother-in-law since they shared the same wedding date.

Preceding her in death was her husband of 64 years, Laurence; two sisters and their husbands; brother in law, Bill Schmoe, a grandson, Cody Watts; and several nephews and nieces. She is survived by a sister, Lil Schmoe in Louisville, CO; oldest son Larry and Barbara Dunn of North Pole AK; son Eddie and Robin Dunn of Gate; daughter Dorothy Plummer and Marvin Hadley of Fort Mojave, AZ, and daughter Marilee and Tony Watts of Reno, NV; 11 grandkids, 19 great grandkids, six great-great grandkids and dozens of nephews and nieces.