Jana Lynn Hightower

Jana was our little energizer bunny whose positivity helped us all through life’s challenges and reminded us to see the good in every situation. She taught us to love deeply, have compassion, chase our dreams, and never give up. She was always smiling, and her infectious laugh will never leave us.

Jana was born in Tulsa, OK on October 7, 1958 to Dr. Arthur Pokorny and Jan Pokorny. The Pokorny family moved to Edmond, OK in the early 1960’s where she began studying oboe and dance. Her oboe was unfortunately stolen, so she then turned her full attention to dance, and never looked back. She attended Edmond Memorial High school and graduated with the class of 1976. She studied dance with the Kaleidoscope Dance Company of Central State University.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Science, she then went on to pursue her career in dance as she always knew she would. She performed with the Prairie Dance Theatre professional dance company. She then went on to study at the American Ballet Academy in Pasadena, CA. Soon after, she joined the entertainment staff as a saloon dancer at Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO.

Jana created the Department of Dance at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK while working on her Master’s Degree of Science. She was also a choreographer and performer for the River City Players Music Show in Tahlequah for many summers.

She somehow found the time to pursue Karate and was a member of the NSU Karate Club. She ranked second in the state in Kata performance. She held a brown belt in Karate and went on to become an instructor.

More recently, she was an instructor for Silver Sneakers Senior Fitness Program and continued to choregraph throughout her life. She loved her kids, her dogs, and God very much. She loved church, especially when she got a hold of a tambourine.

Jana was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Arthur Pokorny; mother, Jan Pokorny-Steele; and step-father, Stanley Steele. She is survived by children, Gray Hightower of Tulsa, OK, and

Ashlyn Anderson and husband Riley of Kansas City, KS; and sister, Kara Luschen and husband Robb of Edmond, OK.

We know she is now in the hands of our Heavenly Father, and reunited with her loving parents. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, “There’s a time to cry, and a time to laugh. A time to grieve, and a time to dance.” We know that Jana has found her time to dance once again.