Gary & Jessie Wooden

Gary (Woody) Wooden went home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 24 2024. Woody was born on April 7th, 1932 in Gering, Nebraska. At the age of 16 he joined the National Guard and after his tour of duty was over, he then went into the U.S. Navy in October 1951. When he was discharged, he stayed in California with his wife Jessie and son Bob. After a few years, in 1960, they settled in Lincoln, California.

Woody was a member of the First Baptist Church, now First Street Community Church. He was active in Lincoln Litte League which his sons Bob and Doug were playing. He sold insurance for Farmers and eventually became a Real Estate Broker.

Woody is preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Ruby Wooden, brothers Ronnie and Frank, and sister Dorothy. Woody leaves behind his wife, Jessie, children Bob, Mona, Doug, and Monica. Also 9 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

This was the obituary that my mother wrote about her husband Woody not knowing that she would soon follow him in death on the day before Mother’s Day, May 11, 2024. Mom was also a member of the First Baptist Church.

While her kids were in school, she was active in PTA and served as President at one time. She attended all the school functions, whether it be for school band, piano recitals, sports, or anything else her kids were involved in. She and Woody also chaperoned one my 8th grade dances. She made scrap books for each of her kids. If our name was mentioned or we took part in an activity that was reported in the newspaper, she cut out the article and saved it for us. I still have the scrapbook she put together for me (Mona).

Her father died in a car accident when she was 12 years old. Her mother retired to Lincoln and lived a long full life. She loved the Giants and the 49’ers. She got to see both teams win multiple World Series and Super Bowls after a long wait from when she was a kid. She was an avid book reader and had a large collection which she began giving away in her later life.

An open house in memory of Woody and Jessie will take place on Saturday, June 29th in their former duplex at 298 “A” H Steet in Lincoln from Noon until 5:00 pm. Please join us.