Cloudy, 26° F
(Aug. 9, 1926 - Dec. 4, 2015)
Gloria Woods, 89, died peacefully on Dec. 4, 2015.
She was born on Aug. 9, 1926, to George and Mildred Grosh in Goodyear, Arizona.
Her family settled in Wilcox, Arizona, where she graduated from high school in 1944. She attended Phoenix Junior College.
In 1946 she fell in love and married a good-looking California sailor, Richard ‘Rich’ Woods. They moved to Cody in 1956.
Gloria owned and operated Woods Ceramic Shop for many years in her home. Her customers and friends were welcomed with coffee, good conversation and the confidence that they could create beautiful gifts for family and friends.
Later she embarked on a new adventure of owning and operating Avis Rent A Car. She also purchased the Standard Oil service station and operated it through the 1980s.
In her spare time, she loved working in her rose garden, camping, fishing and driving around the Cody area, on “Patrol” as her husband called it.
Her home was filled with love, where friends became family. She was a member of Soroptimists and a 50-year member of The Order of Eastern Star.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents George and Mildred Grosh, her husband Richard Woods and her nephew George Grosh III.
She is survived by her children John Woods (Marcy) of New Braunfels, Texas; Corky Messenger (Michael) of Thermopolis and Jennifer Duneman (Arnie) of Cody; six grandchildren, Troy Woods (Jamie) of Sandwich, Illinois, Kate Messenger (Fred ) of North Pole, Alaska, Nate Messenger (Cindy) of Thermopolis, Crystal Duneman of Pierre, South Dakota, and Cal Duneman of Cody, Jade Woods of Cody and nine great-grandchildren; one brother George Grosh Jr. (Joanne) of Meeteetse, one niece and one great-niece.
Contributions in memory of Gloria Woods may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA, 22312 or Spirit Mountain Hospice, 808 Canyon View Avenue, Cody, WY, 82414.
A celebration of life will be on Friday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. at Ballard Funeral Home, with a reception to follow at the Sunset House at 2:30 p.m.
