Lanita Witt

Lanita Witt, M.D., born Lanita Carol Witt on August 26, 1950 in Panhandle, Texas, died peacefully at home at Willow-Witt Ranch in Ashland, Oregon, on December 15, 2022, at the age of 72.

Lanita received her undergraduate degree at Texas Woman’s University, earned her medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Hospitals and Clinics. Following her medical training, she took a course in carpentry and house building.

In 1979, Lanita met and fell in love with Suzanne Willow, her life partner for 43 years. Suzanne and Lanita had their first marriage ceremony in 1984, were married under the care of South Mountain Friends Meeting in 2005, and were finally able to be legally married in 2013.

Lanita and Suzanne were living and working in Napa, California, in 1984 when they found and soon purchased 440 poorly-cared-for acres in the mountains above Ashland; they moved onto the land in 1986. Thanks to their careful love and stewardship, the land, Willow-Witt Ranch, has become a model of sustainable farming, animal husbandry, outdoor education, and forestry. They have created a lovely campground, guest accommodations, and a retreat facility. Most recently they developed The Forest Conservation Burial Ground, Oregon’s first newly-created “green” burial ground. Both women have been gifted visionaries, hard-working, enthusiastic advocates for the land and for sustainability. One of their favorite sayings (found inside a kitchen cupboard of their 1920’s house) was “Live as if you’re going to die tomorrow; farm as if you’re going to live forever.” In their 38 years of loving this land, they have created and nurtured stunning beauty, sustainability and harmony which will continue to provide inspiration for many generations to come.

Dr. Witt practiced medicine for 35 years in the Rogue Valley.  At the OB-GYN Clinic she had a full obstetrics and surgical practice.  Joining the Providence Medford Medical Group in 2005, she established the Urogynecology Clinic.  A skilled and compassionate surgeon, she passed the first national board exam in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at age 65.

Lanita was an active participant with South Mountain Friends Meeting for many years prior to becoming a member in 2008. Her service on behalf of the Meeting was far-reaching and her expertise on Building and Grounds Committee is still deeply appreciated and missed. She also served ably and with refreshing humor on the Joint Committee which oversees the building and property we share with Peace House.

Two months before Lanita’s death, Willow-Witt Ranch hosted an outdoor celebration of her remarkable life. In the spirit of “potlatch,” Lanita chose to give away many things she had made and collected over the years. Among the almost 200 who attended the celebration were Lanita’s former patients, medical colleagues, other farmers and foresters, relatives of people buried in The Forest Conservation Burial Ground, parents of children who attended summer day camps at the Ranch, young people whose lives have been deeply influenced by their experiences on the farm, long-time friends, family, Quakers – a wonderfully diverse gathering of people who love Lanita. Their moving tributes attested to Lanita’s vision, warmth, humor, patient teaching, kindness, perseverance, and commitment to the health of the earth and the community.

Lanita is survived by her wife Suzanne, her daughter Brooke and granddaughter Ella, her nephew Ralph and his family, her niece Cynthia and her family, and her many, many friends. Lanita is greatly loved and greatly missed. Hers was a life lived fully, in Trust and Love and Light.