Ellis A. Woods

Ellis A. Woods, 90 year old Gage resident, was called home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 8, 2010 in the Woodward Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 11, 2010 at the Gage Christian Church with the Reverend Nancy Woods and the Reverend Donnie Heigle officiating. Interment will be in the Gage Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Billings Funeral Home in Woodward from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 10, 2010.

Ellis Aubrey Woods born was December 16, 1919 in Ellis County, Oklahoma on the family farm north of Arnett, Oklahoma.  Ellis attended grade school at Lone Star, a one room school house just down the road from his home and graduated from Arnett High School in 1935 at the age of 15.  Ellis attended Northwestern State Teachers College in Alva for one semester and then returned to the family farm.  In the summer of 1937 Ellis moved to California looking for work.  With the help of his good friend, Marvin Rider, Ellis quickly found employment in a local grocery store and sent for his sweetheart, Lenna Alvina Dickens, to join him in the late fall of that same year.  Ellis and Lenna were married on December 4, 1937 in Woodland, CA where they made their first home.  To this union 5 Children were born; Forest Arin Woods, Lana Mae (Woods-Wolgamott) Walker, Bryan Gregory (B.G.) Woods, Thomas Anthony Woods, and Joseph Spencer Woods.  After the death of his first wife Ellis married Irma Littler on September 24, 1993 in Woodward, OK and enjoyed just over 16 years of blessed companionship with Irma and her children and grandchildren, as well as his new in-laws.

In 1944 with WWII proceeding, Ellis knew he was about to be drafted so he moved his wife Lenna and their two children at the time, Forest and Lana, back to Gage where Lenna would be close to her family.  Ellis entered the Army in the spring of 1945 doing his basic training at Fort Chaffee, AR, later serving at Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Bliss, Texas.  Due to the ending of WWII and his family obligations, Ellis was eligible for an honorable discharge in September 1945.   

With his service to his country complete, Ellis and Lenna purchased a dairy and some farm ground from his father-in - law, John S. Dickens, and started Community Jersey Farms with a few head of Jerseys and a lot of hard work.  Ellis and Lenna, with the help of Forest and Lana began serving Gage and surrounding areas with door to door milk and cream delivery later adding a soda pop line.  The early fifties brought the addition of three new sons to the family and Ellis and Lenna resolved to focus on just the dairy and development of their Jersey herd.  

Ellis was a pioneering leader of the Dairy Cooperatives in the 4 state area of Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Kansas serving as charter board member of the North Texas Dairyman's Association which later became the Associated Milk Producers Incorporated.  Ellis was a former director of the American Jersey Cattle Club serving Jersey Breeders across the United States. Many Jersey breeders have noted that Ellis CHANGED the breed with the introduction of the "Sooner" bull.  Evidence of the Sooner bloodline is still seen in greater milk and butterfat production in Jersey cattle with the "Sooner" bloodline.   Ellis also served as director for the Production Credit Association as well as several other state and local boards including the Gage town board where he served as mayor for several years.  During Ellis's term on the Gage town board one of his proudest accomplishments was the improvement of the park area around the Gage Beach.   

Family was important to Ellis.  In their younger years Ellis and his brothers formed a quartet with sister Sylvia at the piano and were privileged to be called upon to sing at numerous funerals around the Ellis County area. When they were able, Ellis missed very few opening day quail hunts with his brothers either in Catesby or Arnett or Fargo and passed that love of the hunt on to his Sons and Grandsons.  Ellis loved to play ping pong and enjoyed many family gatherings with a little food and a several games with his brothers.  Always an avid seven point pitch player, Ellis enjoyed many a "Sister-In-Law" day with his brothers, sisters, and in-laws and later with his nieces and nephews or anyone who would sit down at the table with him.

Ellis was baptized into the Methodist church as a child and later in life was baptized and joined the First Christian Church, Gage. At the Gage Church Ellis served as an Elder, Sunday school teacher as well as serving on the local church board and several state disciples committees. During the 50's Ellis taught the youth class which was very influential in his life and later served as the adult class teacher.

Ellis was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 and 1/2 years, Lenna. one son, Forest, his parents Fred A. and Anna Mae (Bondurant) Woods, one infant brother, one sister, Ada (Woods) Branstetter, five brothers: Anson, Chester, Nelson, Acy and Harold.   

Ellis is survived by his wife Irma of the home, four children and their spouses, Lana and George Walker of Woodward, B. G. and Sheryl Woods of Gage, Tom and Nancy Woods of Gage, Joe and Cyndi Woods of Cherokee,  one brother, Stacy Woods of Redland, CA, one sister, Sylvia Grantham of Woodward, Sister-in-Law, Teddy Norman of Carlsbad, NM,  Sisters and Brothers-in-law Charles and Eula Phillips of Mutual; Lionel and Ruth Clem of Sharon and Avis Duncan of Altus;  17 Grand Children, Tricia West, Arin Woods, Chad Woods, Brad Wolgamott, Rebecca Fiedler, Jana Erikson, Josh Woods, Jodi Glisson, Karee Shirley, Kyle Woods, Kristeen Westbrook, Keri Ryel, Marvin Rolfe, Jack Woods, Lisa Vasquez, Mitchell Woods, Isaac Woods.  Two step-children, Cindy Carrell of Kalispell, MT and Sue Lougee of Woodward,  2 Step-grandchildren,  23 Great Grandchildren,  3 step-great grandchildren,  a great number of nieces, nephews whom he enjoyed very much, numerous other relatives and a host of friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gage Christian Church Building Fund or the charity of your choice with the funeral home accepting the contributions.

Remembrances may be shared online at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com