Mary Joan Wood

Mary Joan Wood was born on January 17, 1938, in Hardeman County, Texas to George and Elizabeth Myers. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to Lockney, and that is where she grew up and graduated high school in 1956.

Mary went to college at West Texas State University in Canyon where she excelled in bowling and led the team to many championships including the first ever women’s bowling traveling trophy. During her time at West Texas State, she was introduced to the love of her life, Bobby Wood, a young farmer from Groom, Texas. It was love at first sight and just four months later that farmer asked Mary for her hand in marriage. They were married on September 29, 1961 in Bushland, Texas.

Mary was no stranger to hard work, as she was Bobby’s right hand woman on the farm and ranch in Groom. There they raised registered Hereford cattle and farmed wheat, corn, and milo. Mary and Bobby traveled the country showing their cattle and gaining many life-long friends along the way. In 1963, the couple welcomed their daughter Kellye into the world, and four years later their son Kevin completed the family of four. Mary held many different clerical positions including working at banks, the Groom hospital, Groom ISD, and eventually retiring from the Pantex plant in Amarillo. Mary was a talented seamstress and enjoyed sewing beautiful garments for her daughter and granddaughters that even included matching dresses for their baby dolls. She enjoyed teaching her grandchildren how to sew for the 4-H fashion shows and was an expert at patching Bobby’s work overalls. Mary was also a very talented painter and her many art pieces are cherished by her family.

Mary also had a very competitive nature and could often be found sitting in the bleachers yelling for the players and at the referees when they missed a call. She was also quite a card shark. She enjoyed playing all types of card games with friends and family, where no one was safe from her competitiveness.

The greatest legacy that Mary leaves is her love for Jesus Christ and her love for others. Mary gave her life to Jesus at an early age and served Him faithfully until her final breath on Earth. She served in countless Sunday school classes, Vacation Bible Schools, preparing meals for people, and never hesitated to open her home to those in need. We may never know the number of lives that were changed due to her servant’s heart. Mary and Bobby also shared a deep love of Southern Gospel music, and they attended numerous concerts and revivals with family and friends.

Mary entered her Heavenly Home on October 10, 2024; surrounded by family and friends at Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, Texas.

Those left to cherish her memories are her husband of 63 years, Bobby Wood; daughter, Kellye Jackson (Alan); son, Kevin Wood (Jennifer); and her sister, Sandra Hill. Endeared as “Nanny” to many more are four grandchildren: Kaci Bailey (Mitchel), Kolton Wood (Rebekah), Kyndal Dixon (Wade), and Kaleb Wood; and seven great-grandchildren: Micah, Karter, Andy, and Jeffrey Bailey; Knox Wood; Hank and Annie Dixon; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, George and Elizabeth Myers, and her
grandparents.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of East Texas, Home Care, and Home Place for the wonderful care they gave so graciously to Mary. There are numerous others we want to express our sincere gratitude to including her care-givers; Wanda Johnson, and dear long-time family friend Mike Watson.

Celebration of Life services were held on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Landmark Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. A similar service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Clarendon on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.