Joan Claire Woods

Jo was born on the family farm in Goodland, KS on June 16, 1932, the third child of Gertrude Alvina and John Herman Shaver.

Her early education was obtained in a one-room schoolhouse in the Voltaire Center School District, and she graduated high school from Sherman Community High School, Goodland, KS. She was a member of the Beaver Valley 4-H club and enrolled in many home economics projects, competitive events and activities. In 1948, she was recognized for excellence in Promotional Speaking and awarded a trip to the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago, IL. Jo continued her educational journey at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, where she received a Bachelor of Science with a dual degree of Education and Extension in Human Ecology. During her college career, she was active in Collegiate 4-H, Education and Extension clubs and a member of Mortar Board. In 1951, she was named co-chairman of "Future Fantasies," the School of Human Ecology’s all-school open house. She was officially designated as an International Farm Youth Exchangee (IFYE) to Ireland and Northern Ireland, where she lived with 11 different farm families and attended the Northwest Agricultural School for girls in Strabane, Ireland, from June to November 1952.

Life was ever-changing for Jo. In March 1953, she signed a contract for her first teaching position at the Smith Center High School in Smith Center, KS. Shortly thereafter, she met a young physician, Dr. Hugh J. Woods, who had recently joined the local medical group to begin practicing medicine. On April 2, 1955, Hugh and Jo were married at the Smith Center United Methodist Church. The following year, Hugh accepted a Cardiology residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS. During his residency, Jo was employed by the Shawnee Mission School District at Hocker Grove Junior High School. At the completion of his residency, the couple returned to Smith Center where they established their home and raised a family over the next 35 years.

As a member of the United Methodist Church, Jo held many offices in the women’s society of the church, taught Bible School, volunteered at the Hardly Used Shop, and wrote the church’s “Hanging of the Greens” service. Jo was also active in many community organizations. She organized the 1% Blood Program for Smith County and surrounding counties; served youth groups as a 4-H leader, Cub and Webelo Scout leader; sponsored the Family Career and Community Leaders of America; was a Smith County Extension Board member; a member of Entre Nous Club; assisted with drives for the American Heart and Cancer Associations; and was an avid supporter for all her children’s educational and athletic events.

Her lifelong dream of achieving her Master of Science degree in Human Ecology was fulfilled in 1979 after commuting to classes for two years from Smith Center to Kansas State University. She returned to the teaching profession from 1982 to 1987 at the Smith Center High School, where she was a member of the Home Economics Association and the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Jo never met a hobby she didn’t enjoy, of which there were many. Some of her favorites included knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, sewing, quilting, cake decorating, stained glass making, floral design and home decorating. Her former students, family members and professional friends encouraged her to share her endless recipe collection, and she responded by writing and publishing her own cookbook. The proceeds from the sale of her cookbook were donated to the Smith Center High School Home Economics classroom kitchens for the purchase of new appliances and much needed equipment. Her pride and joy was her family, however, which was blessed with multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Helen (Bill) Rossetti; brother, James (Mildred) Shaver; and her husband of 58 years, Hugh. She leaves behind her children, Mark and wife, Toni, of Lenexa, KS, Mitch of Wichita, KS, Mike and wife, Jane, of Lawrence, KS, and Wendy of Greenwood, MO; grandchildren, Megan Buell and husband, Eric, of Salt Lake City, UT, Chris Woods and wife, Fay, of Spring Hill, KS, Cailin Woods of Lawrence, KS, Ian Woods of Boston, MA, Jenna Woods of Old Lyme, CT, and Elian Belen of Greenwood, MO; and great-grandchildren, Owen, Jonathan, Katherine and Elizabeth Buell, and Elsie, Scarlet, Ada, and Hugh Christopher Woods.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO 64145, at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30, 2024, with visitation one hour prior.

The family expresses endless gratitude to the compassionate staff and caretakers at The Atriums Senior Living Community in Overland Park, KS, and Sunrise of Lenexa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Home on the Range, a historical landmark in Smith County, KS, which can be mailed to: The People’s Heartland Foundation, FBO: Home on the Range, PO Box 30, Smith Center, KS 66967, with the notation “In memory of Joan C. Woods.”