Jerry Mac Woodard

He proudly and honorably served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1963. He deployed to waters off the coast of south Florida during the Cuban missile crisis.

He joined the Army reserves after active duty.

He married Mary Jo Rouvaldt of Forney, Texas in 1964. They built a life in Dallas’s Old Lake Highlands neighborhood, where they lived in the same house for 56 years until Jerry’s death.

Jerry worked for Xerox Corporation for 40 years servicing copy machines and managing teams of technicians across Dallas. He won multiple awards for delivering top-notch customer service.

In his younger years he was an avid outdoorsman – fishing, waterskiing, or riding a dirt bike most every weekend.

Once he and Mary Jo had two daughters, Paula and Teresa, the avid outdoorsman became a devoted girl dad.

He taught his girls to fish and to love the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers, but he was their biggest fan during dance recitals, cheerleading events, softball games, or band concerts. His daughters were also their daddy’s biggest fans.

A gifted Mr. Fixit, Jerry could repair anything, make anything, or build anything. It is impossible to count the number of times he came to the rescue of a neighbor, friend, or family member in need of help –many times in the middle of the night.

People gravitated to Jerry in any room he entered. His dry wit helped him tell the best stories – often layered with jokes no one saw coming. He listened well and made whoever he was talking to feel heard. He never judged people for their problems.

He had a strong faith in God and displayed that belief through words, deeds, and actions. He respected and loved people of all religions and backgrounds.

Jerry grew up in the country outside of Winnsboro and never lost his love of farming. He held on to the land in Wood County that originally belonged to his grandparents and he raised longhorn cattle on that property for decades.

His hobbies grew and changed as his health did – from fishing and farming and tractors, to collecting fishing reels, riding motorcycles (in his 70s!), and woodworking and making pens.

He and Mary Jo loved to take daytrips across North and East Texas in his prized F-150 pickup.

He was a man’s man, yet he never hesitated to tell someone he loved them.

That’s one reason all who were blessed to know him loved him too.

No girls have ever been as lucky as Paula and Teresa to have Jerry Woodard for a daddy. They will miss everything about him – especially their group texts acting as armchair play-by-play announcers and color commentators during every Dallas Cowboys game.

His sons-in-law, John and Mark, felt like family from the moment they met him. They will forever miss his laid back, easy-going character.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Nadine Woodard, brother Bobby Woodard, and sister Ann Birdsong.

He is survived by his wife and soulmate Mary Jo, daughter Paula and her husband John Kusewitt of Garland, daughter Teresa and her husband Mark Schnyder of Arlington, and many loving family members.

Visitation for Jerry Woodard will be from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway. Memorial service will begin immediately after at 2 p.m.

Burial will be at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Heart Association, National Kidney Foundation, Texas Parks & Wildlife, or the charity of your choice.