Our Staff

Casey, Assistant Administrator/Employee Coordinator
Casey has been involved in Long Term Care since May of 2005, having obtained her license as a Nursing Home Administrator in August 2006. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at Tyler and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma. Also currently a licensed attorney in the State of Oklahoma, Casey’s previous work experience has included positions with the Department of Human Services in the states of Louisiana and Texas and Youth & Family Services in Enid, Oklahoma. She was in private practice for several years in Enid, primarily working in the field of Family Law, before entering the profession of Long Term Care where she worked as the Administrator of Crestridge Place in Watonga for 2 years. Casey has two daughters, a 20-year-old junior at the Oklahoma State University and a 14-year-old 8th grader at Lomega High School.

Brenda, Resident and Family Coordinator/Marketing Director
After growing up in Colorado and living for many years in Montana, Brenda chose to move to Oklahoma to be near her daughter and son-in-law in the fall of 2007. She began her long term care career 10 years ago in Colorado first as administrator of an assisted living facility and later at a nursing home too. She has 4 grown children and recently got married. She and Jay live in Fairview with their dog, Carly.

Patti, Certified Activity Director/Social Services Director
Patti has been the activity/social service director for Summit Living Center since 2004. She was born and raised in Okeene and is a whippet fan. Patti graduated in 1992 with a bachelor of science degree in Human Environmental Science from Oklahoma State University. Some of Patti's interests include reading, computers, needlework, gardening, music, and family. Patti has 5 grown children and one grandson. She and her husband Frank live in Okeene.


Richard, Certified Dietary Manager
Born in Oklahoma, Richard grew up in Colorado, graduating from Littleton High School. He returned to Oklahoma in 1983 and began working in long-term care in 1985. Richard is a Certified Dietary Manager and takes great pride in providing quality food service to the residents and employees of Summit Living Center. Richard oversees all aspects of the dietary department including maintaining all state and federal regulations, providing necessary training within his department, and coordinating the menus, ordering, and preparation of the meals. Richard also oversees the preparation for the Meals on Wheels and the meals for the Okeene Municipal Hospital.

Richard lives in Okeene with his daughter and he enjoys runnings, weightlifting, politics, computers and spending time with his son and daughter and other family members. Summit Living Center could not ask for a more dedicated individual to supervise such a critical aspect of their care and they are fortunate Richard has chosen to work here in Okeene.

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Administrative Nurses
The administrative nursing staff at Summit Living Center not only perform administrative tasks but ech provides direct patient care, administers medications and works as a charge nurse. By being active in daily activities, Summit nurses are able to provide a higher level of professional care to residents.

Tina Carney, RN, MS, ADON
Tina Carney joined the Summit Living team in April 2006 as part-time and came full-tim in Feb. 2009. She always wanted to be a nurse and made it a reality in 1990 with an Associate's Degree in nursing. She continued her education and received her BSN in 2006 followed by her MS in Nursing Leadership in 2008. In addition, she's earned her certification as a Med/Surg, and is a member of the American Nurses Association and the Oklahoma Nurses Association. Prior to coming to Summit full-time, she worked 7 years in corrections at the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Dept. as the team leader of Sickcalls/physicals teams. She is single and loves spending time with family and friends when not volunteering with the Department of Corrections, Medical Missions, and working with children.

Melinda, RN/ADON Evening Shift
Melinda is an Oklahoma native who has lived in the Watonga area most of her life. She has three grown sons and her terrier Rosie. Melinda received an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at Redlands Community College in 1995. She has worked as an RN for the last thirteen years at numerous medical settings including hospitals, clinics, and long term care facilities. Melinda has always come back to what she believes is her true calling which is geriatric nursing and states, “It is a privilege to work with and care for our elders. We need them as much if not more than they need us.”

Lori, LPN
Lori began her career in the long term care industry in 1991 working as a dietary aide and then as a certified nurse aide as she completed high school. Lori continued her nursing career after high school when she obtained her LPN in 1995. Born and raised in Northwest Oklahoma, Lori and her daughter Clarissa have lived in Okeene since the summer of 2003. Having worked with both Sarah and James, Lori states that, “joining the Summit Living Center family is like coming home”.