Clarice Woods

Clarice Woods, 95, went home to be with her Savior on Saturday, July 21, 2007, at 6 p.m. in her home in Republic, Mo. She was born December 4, 1911, in Cedar County to Lushen and Ollie Dixon. She attended Stockton, Mo., school and Southwest Baptist University, mainly by correspondence. she became a teacher in a one-room, all grades schoolhouse, often "wiping noses and stoking the woodstove" besides teaching lessons. She married Noel A. Woods on May 17, 1940, and together they managed Safeway stores in several locations, eventually moving to Springfield. She stayed home after the birth of their only child until later in life when she worked at Cranks Drug Store and Schaffitzels Greenhouse. She accepted Christ as a young lady and was baptized in a river. After moving to Springfield, she became an active member of High Street Baptist Church as a children's worker, adult group leader, member of Grandmothers Club and part of the Super Seniors, often traveling with them to faraway destinations. She resided with her daughter and son-in-law for almost 30 years, willingly moving with them in ministry and most recently joining First Baptist Church in Republic, where she attended faithfully and made many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and brother and sister-in-law, Elvas and Helen Dixon. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Ward and husband, Steve, of the home; granddaughters, Wendy Renfrow and husband, Lance, of Ozark, and Allison Smith and husband, Bryan, of Republic; great-granddaughters, Ryley and Reese Renfrow and Mavree Smith; brother-in-law Kenneth Woods and his wife, Jerri, of Oak Grove, Mo.; one nephew, Michael Woods and wife, Happy, of South Portland, Maine; and one niece, Barbara Durin and husband, Tom, of Wentzville, Mo. Services will be today, July 24, at 1 p.m. in Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 E. Seminole, Springfield, followed by burial in Lindley Prairie Cemetery near Stockton.