Laura Jean Woods

Laura Jean (Rodgers) Woods, ushered into the arms of Christ Jesus on September 15th, 2024 with her daughter, daughter-in-law, caregiver, and hospice nurse by her side. She celebrated her 96th birthday at a home celebration with family and friends in Troy, MO. Laura was born on June 25, 1928, in Searcy, Arkansas, and was raised in Bald Knob, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest, and Corine Eleanor (Hocott) Rodgers; older sister Ernestine, who died at birth, her son Marshal and her beloved husband, Homer, of 69 years. Laura’s mother died when she was 4 1/2 years old. Her father was heartbroken and hopeless which led to depression, alcoholism, poverty, and two failed marriages. She remembers being poor but never going hungry. Despite her circumstances, Laura’s light shone bright. She would sing and dance for the neighbor lady, who gave Laura pennies, nickels, and dimes. When she was 7, her Aunt Mary Jane (Mollie) took her to Sunday school at the Christian Church in Bald Knob. The Sunday School teacher, Lucille Sawyer, was the first to introduce her to God and learn about a relationship with Jesus. She recalls praying to have a good home and to live in peace! She later attended a Baptist Church. When she became a teenager Laura went to the Assembly of God Church and sang in the choir and on Radio KNBY in Newport, Arkansas. At age 11, she became a Christian and was baptized in the Little Red River in Searcy County, Arkansas at age 14. She recalled the water being so clear then. She later attended Bible College in Hot Springs, Arkansas to be a Sunday School teacher where she led the children’s choir at the Assembly of God Church in Bald Knob. The neighbor and school boys called her Red, Strawberry Roam, and Carrot Top because of her red hair. Her dad called her Jeannie and her Uncle Coy called her Skillet. Her Aunt Esther was a big influence in her life. She was Laura’s Uncle Charlie’s ex-wife and was like a mother. She taught Laura how to wear make-up and how to dress. Laura called her a gracious lady! Uncle Charlie owned a piano store and gave Laura her first Bible. While in her teens, Laura worked in Woolworth’s in Little Rock, then had an opportunity to leave Bald Knob with a family that was moving to California which she said was her most daring moment. She lived in Tarzana with a roommate and worked at Gwinn’s department store. She then went to Van Nuys and worked in W.T. Grant’s department store. She often shared a happy memory of meeting Burt Reynolds, who was a custodian in the store. She remembered that he wanted to be a stuntman. She squeezed his biceps and was so tickled at his smile. While in Santa Ana, in 1952, her roommate’s boyfriend was planning to bring a date to meet them but Laura was fed up with the blind dates so she left work early to go home because she did not want to be home when they came there. She said God had better plans! They were already at the apartment when she arrived home. She looked at him and said to herself, “Hmm! I think I will stick around.” She said he had a nice smile, was tall, and thin, had pretty hair, and was a good kisser! (He grabbed her hand, pulled her into the coat closet, and laid a big kiss on her, for those who had not heard their story before). He was a Marine Staff Sergeant and looked good in his uniform. He was so thoughtful and did not drink or smoke which she admired. Laura weighed 98 pounds and was 23 years old! They instantly fell in love and married on September 26th, 1953 in Yuma, Arizona, en route to St. Louis where Homer had a job waiting for him. They lived in a second-story apartment building without air conditioning when she was pregnant with Marshal. Her most thrilling moment was purchasing their first home – a 36’ long Spartan mobile home. In 1959, they moved to a house in O’Fallon, MO, and Terri was born in December. They built a house in 1969 on 7- ¾ acres on Hwy K in St. Charles. In 2005 they built and moved to their beloved 10-acre home in Moscow Mills where they spent 12 years before making Troy their permanent residence. Laura’s favorite childhood memories were sitting on her dad’s lap and driving with Uncle Charlie for the first time in his 1947 Ford at age 16. Her favorite hobbies were listening to music, playing the organ, sewing, baking cookies, flower gardening, reading, and bird watching. She recalled for us, in a book, some of the most important lessons she learned in life: Try not to be jealous. Try to get along with people but not to be a doormat. What goes around, comes around. Try to be patient. Respect all people--color and race. Show love and concern. Live a prayerful life and ask forgiveness when we fail and make mistakes. Be kind, and thoughtful of others. Don’t worry about what others think. Allow Jesus and the Ten Commandments to guide your spiritual journey. Laura loved being a wife and mother. She described it as being her greatest achievement. The Bible had been her source in life. She knew God loved her and cared for her. Her faith kept her going. She is survived by her daughter Terri J. Woods of Troy, and daughter-in-law Lourdes S. Woods of St. Peters. We will all miss her very much and carry on the lessons she taught. She will be interred with Homer at St. Charles Memorial Gardens. In place of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Troy First Assembly of God; Laura’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Trees for a Change which will plant a tree in a US National Forest in her name, or donate to plant a tree at St. Charles Memorial Gardens, or a tree, bush, or flower somewhere special or in your yard. Memorials in care of Kemper-Keim Family Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 222 Troy, MO 63379. We love you, dear sweet mother, and friend. We are happy you are at peace and singing praises with Jesus, Dad, and Marshal. The family sincerely thanks the staff and caregivers at Private Home Care and the caring nurse and staff at Gentiva Hospice for the compassionate care you provided in the last several months. Andrea, Pearlie, Jordan, Jason, Kayla, and Emily, you are a Godsend, and family now. We are so grateful to you! Family and friends will be received from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at KEMPER-KEIM Family Funeral Chapel located at 351 Monroe Street Troy, MO 63379. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday 21, 2024 at Kemper-Keim Family Funeral Chapel in Troy, MO. Interment will be held at the St. Charles Memorial Gardens in St. Charles, MO. Officiating the service will be Pastor Joseph Britain. Arrangements are under the direction of Kemper-Keim Family Funeral Chapel; P.O. Box 222, Troy, Missouri 63379. Online condolences may be made at www.kemperkeimfamilyfuneralchapel.com

Laura Jean Woods

June 25, 1928 - September 15, 2024