In a quiet, rural corner of McClain County, the life of 69-year-old Katherine "Kathy" Geren came to a tragic end on April 13, 2026. Concerns arose among her family when they were unable to reach her for days. This unsettling silence prompted a family member to visit her home on State Highway 74, south of Purcell, to check on her welfare. Upon arrival, a devastating discovery was made, and a call was placed to law enforcement.
McClain County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to the
residence and found Katherine Geren deceased inside. They also located her 73-year-old husband, James Booker, who was also deceased. The preliminary investigation by the sheriff's office indicated that Booker had shot and killed his wife before turning the weapon on himself in a murder-suicide. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation's Crime Scene Unit was called in to assist with the investigation. Authorities have stated that they are not actively looking for any suspects in connection with the deaths. The official cause and manner of death are pending confirmation from the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's office.
Katherine, known to friends and family as Kathy, was remembered as a cherished mother and grandmother. She had worked for 25 years at the Walmart in Purcell, where her warm smile and sweet disposition were well-known to customers. She was a mother to three children and a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. Her family, heartbroken by the sudden and violent loss, asked those attending her funeral to wear blue, her favorite color, or purple to raise awareness for domestic violence.
