Julie Ann Webster

Julie Ann Webster was born March 24th in 1967 in Tulsa, OK.  She died on August 3, 2023, in Beth Israel and Deaconess Medical Center located in Boston MA with her parents by her side.

Although Julie was born in Oklahoma, but also lived in Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, and spent the last 18 years of her life in Cambridge, MA. Julie loved school and graduated from McCullough High School in The Woodlands, TX.  As a National Merit Scholarship recipient she attended and graduated from The University of Oklahoma with her Bachelor of Science degree in English.  She received several English honors during her college days at OU.  She continued her education receiving her Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Oklahoma as well.

Julie began her professional career in educational publishing with Saxon Math located in Norman, OK.  She was with Saxon’s for 14 years serving as the chief Editor for the math and phonics textbook publications.  For the past 18 years she worked for Educational Publishing Services as managing/ primary editor for the publication of educational supplemental reading materials including vocabulary building and phonics used to improve reading skills for students of all levels and ages.  She very much enjoyed her work and felt the satisfaction that she was helping teachers by providing appropriate instructional materials to assist all students to become better readers.  Julie’s love for books and reading and the enjoyment she received through reading was her drive for wanting especially young students to have the appropriate skills needed to become lifelong readers.

Julie led a life filled with travel, Sooner football, walks in the beautiful park-like grounds of Mount Auburn cemetery near her home, visiting museums and art galleries, movies, animals, especially dogs. Reading was her favorite pastime and from the time she first learned to read until her death there was a book nearby.    She wrote post cards to citizens all over the US encouraging them to get out and vote and was a great admirer of Senator Elizabeth Warren and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg.

She was enthusiastic about playing family games and was very competitive from an early age.  She was the family tour guide when she traveled with her Mom and Dad and her brother.  She did the research in finding the best museums, lighthouses or even old cemeteries and enjoyable sights for everyone to visit, especially on the trips we took to London and exploring historical places in the northeast where she lived. When we attended the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl, she outlined an itinerary for sightseeing that everyone enjoyed.

Julie was a positive person and although she was stricken with lung cancer in 2010 she was tough and courageous as she struggled for 13 years to continue living life to its fullest.  Until her death many of her coworkers had no idea she had cancer and the private struggles she had experienced daily.  She was admired by many by the manner in which she forged onward with her work and didn’t let her health problems limit her ability to perform at a very high level of performance in her job.  She was admired and respected by many whom she worked with during her life in educational publishing.

Julie is survived by her parents, Mike and Barbara Webster, Norman, OK, her brother Kelly Webster, Norman, her Uncle Pat Copeland, Norman, OK, Cousins Brandon and wife Jana, Lewisville, TX and Tara Melton, Santa Fe, New Mexico and numerous other extended family and friends and coworkers.

Julie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Bill and Reva Melton of Maysville, Lorene and JC Copeland of Norman and great grandparents Bonnie and Henry Ivey, Maysville and Bert and Dave Duncan, Stratford, OK and her Uncle Kent Melton.

Donations in memory of Julie include Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.  You may donate by going to their website Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at:   danafarber.jimmyfund.org   Using the drop down menu click on lung cancer or patient assistance.  Or because of her love of books, donate to any public community library or school library in Julie’s memory or share your personal books for others to enjoy as her parents intend to do with Julie’s personal library.

Survivors include: her parents, Mike and Barbara Webster of Norman, Oklahoma; brother, Kelly Webster of Norman, Oklahoma; uncle, Patrick Copeland of Norman, Oklahoma; cousins: Brandon and wife, Jana Melton, of Lewisville, Texas and Tara Melton of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Proceeded in death by: her grandparents: Reva and Bill Melton of Maysville, Oklahoma and Lorene and J.C. Copeland of Norman, Oklahoma; great grandparents: Bonnie and Henry Ivey and Bert and Dave Duncan; and an uncle, Kent Melton.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, August, 10, 2023, at the Winans Funeral Home Chapel in Maysville, Oklahoma.  Burial at the Maysville Cemetery under the direction of John W. Williams of Winans Funeral Home in Maysville, Oklahoma.  Words of comfort may be sent to the family at:  www.winansfuneralhome.com

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