STANTON - Marie Woody, of Stanton, died Dec. 22, 2021. She is survived by her children Linda (Steve) Cobb, Carolyn (Michael) VanDyke, Jim (Julie) Woody, six grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Acey Vandever, her husband Pete, and loving sister Billie Jean Lively. She was born in San Angelo, on Sept. 25, 1928, to Charles and Acey Vandever. She grew up in Tyler, and graduated from John Tyler High School. She attended Lamar University and earned a Bachelor’s in History degree and a Master’s in Education degree at the University of North Texas. She was an elementary school teacher in Banquete and Baytown, before joining her sister, Billie Jean Lively, in Stanton where she taught 1st and 4th grade. She met and married J.N. “Pete” Woody, a local farmer and rancher in February 1956.
She loved the companionship within the Stanton community and was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Stanton until retiring to The Village at Manor Park. She was a member of the Stanton Chapter of Eastern Star for 61 years and the Big Spring Chapter of the Social Order of the Beauceant for over 20 years. She was a supporter of the Martin County Library encouraging all to be strong and avid readers. She enjoyed volunteering and visiting with her friends at the Martin County Senior Center. She was active in City of Midland and Midland YMCA water exercise programs as a student and substitute instructor for many years. Determined to earn the physically challenging water instructor certificate at Texas Tech University she succeeded despite being 40 years senior to the next eldest student in the program.
Services were Dec. 28, 2021, at Evergreen Cemetery Chapel in Stanton.
Arrangements were under the direction of Gilbreath Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials to Martin County Library, P.O. Box 1187, Stanton, Texas 79782, or Martin County Senior Citizens, 210 Convent St, Stanton, TX 79782.
While living in West Texas, the couple purchased property on Lake Buchanan and built the home where they would one day retire, enjoying boating and fishing just steps from their front door. The family made regular weekend trips to their lake house, often making the four-hour drive from Stanton after Friday night football games where their sons played, and their daughter cheered. Holidays and summer vacations were spent at the lake. Once their children were on their own, Georgia moved to the lake house while Russell completed his administrative career in Stanton before joining her at the lake permanently. She continued teaching for five years in nearby Burnet before retiring in 1990, having been a proud Texas educator for 33 years.
During her last years of teaching, she was instrumental in forming Texas Professional Educators, serving as a board member and President. She was the group’s first State Secretary when it consolidated with another group to form the Association of Texas Professional Educators, currently the largest independent educators association in the U.S.
She often joined Russell in his travels as District Governor for Lions International, and they made their own memorable trips to New York, Hawaii, Chicago, and Las Vegas, to name a few. She was a dedicated Cowboys fan, but an even bigger fan of the teams her sons coached, and the varied events her granddaughters participated in.
In the early 2000s, she took on the demanding role of dedicated caregiver to her ailing mother, and without a break, to her husband during his fight with Parkinsons. After Russell died in 2003, she did her best to remain active, attending Highland Lakes Methodist Church, joining the Red Hat Club, continuing her position on the water board of their subdivision, and working with the Highland Lakes Republican Women.
For the past several years, she suffered from the cruel effects of dementia and was residing at Poet’s Walk Memory Care in Round Rock at her passing.
She is survived by one brother Jim Eaves of Houston; son John McMeans and wife Tara of Georgetown; daughter Debra Moore and husband Steve of San Angelo; son Dwayne McMeans and wife Kay of Sulphur Springs. She was ‘Gran’ to her five granddaughters – Meagan, Lindsey, Lynn, Emily, and Landry, and to her six great-grandchildren -- Eden, Reese, Coen, Baylor, Mylea, and Lily.
A graveside service was Dec. 28, at Bluffton Cemetery with Dwayne McMeans officiating. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Homes, Inc. Kingsland.