Deanna Kay Land

Deanna Kay (Briggs) Land (80) passed away on December 5, 2025, at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma surrounded by loved ones. She was born in Prairie Grove, Arkansas on April 10, 1945. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank Reed Briggs and Betty Mae Briggs Crum. Deanna grew up and attended public schools in Stilwell, Oklahoma where she graduated as Salutatorian of her high school class. In Stilwell, she met and married James Robert Land and they moved to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She went on to obtain bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and her Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Oklahoma State University.

Deanna was employed at Northeastern State University for twelve years in several departments including athletics, student affairs, and culminating as the Director of Housing. She and her family moved to Edmond Oklahoma in 1978 where she served as Dean of Students at the University of Central Oklahoma for twenty years. She retired in 1998 after enriching the lives of many students after her thirty-two years in higher education. She was honored by the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) regents for her outstanding service to higher education in Oklahoma and granted the distinguished status of Dean of Students Emeritus.

Deanna is survived by her daughter Tracy Case and her husband Rick, and her son James Robert Land, Jr. (Rob) and his wife Traci, all of Edmond Oklahoma. Her greatest joys were her granddaughters Jordan Nicole Case and Reagan Nicole Land, whom she absolutely adored. She is also survived by her sister, Becky Rogers, and her husband Ronnie, of Locust Grove Oklahoma and their daughters Whitney, Sarah, Emily, and Angie who live in Oklahoma, her cousin, Susan Smith, and her husband Mark, who live in San Antonio, Texas, and cousin Regina Inman Smith of Edmond Oklahoma.

Deanna was SO very fortunate to have so many dear friends. She had so many friends because she was such a loving, kind and generous person. She worked with the elderly at Bradford Village painting fingernails and engaging in conversation with the ladies. She attended Waterloo Road Baptist Church in Edmond where she served on the Personnel Committee and where she made many of those friendships. They were with her throughout her illness and comforted her when she needed it most. She was devoted to her family and set an example of grace and strength for her children and grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

Celebration of Deanna’s Life will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025, 1:00 p.m. at Waterloo Road Baptist Church, 3100 East Waterloo Road in Edmond Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Waterloo Road Baptist Church in her honor.