Mary Jeanette Wood was born on February 5, 1930, and left this earth on July 27, 2020, at the age of ninety years, five months, and 22 days. MJ as she liked to be called was born in Alpena Pass and raised in Harrison. She was the daughter of Cliff Wood and Tressie Pearl Jones Wood Godfrey. Education came easy for MJ and she graduated from Harrison High School at 16. She attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville majoring in physical education where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was Homecoming Queen in 1947. It was at the U of A that she met the love of her life W. Stanley Wood (no relation) of Batesville. They married on April 9, 1949. She moved to Batesville to begin a 71+ year journey with Stan.
Mary Jeanette made Batesville her home and quickly fit in joining various organizations including Chapter Z, PEO Sisterhood. She was a founding member of the Batesville Junior Auxiliary and sang and tap-danced in the JA Follies for many years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Batesville. MJ would tell you that her greatest accomplishment was creating a home for Stan and her three children plus a place of refuge and ”Café JJ” for her Grands.
Mary Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents.
MJ is survived by her husband of 71 years, W. Stanley Wood, her three children, Scott Wood (Myra Looney), Janet Wood, and Karan Wood Skinner (J.T.) all of Batesville. Ten grandchildren; Stanley C. Wood (Lynn), Brian Kendall (Stephanie), Damon Johnson (Crystal), Julie Anna Skinner Taylor, Laura Wood Brissey (Phil), Jennifer Wood Cooksey (Brandon), Karan Kendall Pierce (Jeff), Jesse Skinner Freiert (Jeffrey), Woody Skinner (Bess), and Mary Wood Cox (Casey). There are nineteen great-grandchildren, Joshua Wood, Lily Gillihan, Aiden Gieskieng, Howell Taylor, Zachary Wood, Luke Brissey, Liam Gieskieng, Timothy Wood, Mark Brissey, Hattie Johnson, Georgie Freiert, Preston Kendall, Bryce Cooksey, Reid Pierce, Rhece Cooksey, Ben Pierce, Caroline Kendall, Hodgson Cox and Athalia Cox; plus a host of relatives and friends. She and Stan were both only children and she was always proud of the large family legacy they have fostered.
Because of the potential danger of Covid-19, the family has elected not to have visitation. A graveside service will be held at the family site in Oaklawn Cemetery of Batesville on Friday, July 31, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. Pallbearers will be her Grandsons. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Batesville or your favorite charity.
