Winifred ‘Winnie’ McBroom Stone, 96, died peacefully Tuesday, June 19 on her llama ranch in Jamestown.

Born near Colorado Springs, Colo. to parents Howard and Winifred McBroom, she was one of the first women in the state to take a high school biology class.

She attended Colorado Women’s College and Colorado A&M, now Colorado State, and was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

She was a champion sharpshooter with a record that held for some 20 years.

In 1934, she married Frederick Mortimer Stone and the couple spent the early days of their marriage living in Washington D.C.

Mrs. Stone began her teaching career at Fallbrook Elementary School during World War II while her husband served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific.

The pair taught at Fallbrook High School and grew close to members of the class of 1948.

Fifty years later, 54 former Fallbrook students and their spouses traveled to Northern California to attend the Stones’ 60th wedding anniversary.

She lived and taught in Ceres and Patterson before settling in Tuolumne County and her husband also taught at Oakdale High School for many years.

She taught first grade at Curtis Creek Elementary for 20 years and cherished her relationships with colleagues.

A reading specialist, Mrs. Stone developed award-winning programs that inspired thousands of young readers.
She was a source of encouragement to her students.

She was a beloved elementary school teacher.

Her home was open to a parade of family, friends and the occasional llama that took a liking to the living room.
She had a remarkable memory and rock-steady words of positivity.

She was a member of the California Retired Teachers Association, the Native Plant Society and Tuolumne Democratic Club.

She spent her final days eating ice cream with a dog on her lap and correcting the grammar of her youngest granddaughter.

She is survived by her son, Patrick M. (Juliana) Stone of Jamestown; daughter, Emmalou (Nick) Stone-Paul of Oakdale; daughter-in-law Sheila Martin-Stone of Oakdale; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick Stone; sisters, Barbara McBroom, Emmalou Olsen; son, F. Michael Stone; and Maurice Magante.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Remembrances may be made to Hospice of the Sierra, 20100 Cedar Road North, Sonora, CA 95370.