Helen Maxie (Brumley) Woods

Helen Maxine Brumley Woods, age 95, of Wray, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray.

Due to the Covid 19 crisis, private family funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 8 at Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray. Reverend Ben Wentworth will officiate. Interment will be in Haigler Cemetery, Haigler, NE. Public visitation will be from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7 at Schmidt Jones Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Wray or the Hillcrest Care Center.

Helen Maxine was the daughter of Lige and Belva (Florence) Brumley of Greeley, CO. She graduated from Greeley High School and went on to graduate from Colorado State Teachers College at Greeley. It was through the wedding of mutual friends that she met her sweetheart, Royal Woods III. She and Royal were married in Greeley on March 12, 1950. They spent time living in Greeley and Ft Morgan, CO before eventually settling on the Woods ranch, near Haigler. On the ranch, Royal and Helen raised three children: Marcia Kaye, born in 1954, Royal IV (Woody), born in 1962 and Bruce Eugene, born in 1963.

Helen did not know a stranger. She would introduce herself to people that looked new to the community or even slightly familiar and find a common thread in their lives to chat about. She made sure everybody knew everybody else. She was involved in her kids’ church, sport and school endeavors and attended every event, large or small. She drove carloads of kids to ballgames and 4-H contests, and was “Mom” to every kid who needed a snack or a hug or word of encouragement or just a place to be. When her boys went to high school in Wray, they rented an apartment there and she drove to Haigler every day to work alongside Royal, and back to Wray every evening to stay with the boys. There she made many friends through the boys’ events, which in part lead to the decision to make Wray their home in 1987.

Helen was blessed with a beautiful singing voice and belonged to a quartet at the United Methodist Church in Haigler. She sang solos or in groups for countless funerals and other church services. She was a devout member of Haigler and Wray United Methodist Women. She organized, baked for and served funeral dinners for many years. She was involved with the Haigler American Legion, and enjoyed “Tuesday Study Club” in Wray.

Helen and Royal moved to Wray after their son Bruce and daughter in law Val returned to the ranch. Royal did not retire, however, so neither did she.   She came with him whenever she was needed. She came out to Haigler to care for Bruce and Val’s 3 babies for several months after their mother went back to work, so they wouldn’t have to go to daycare so soon, and cared for Woody and Steph’s 4 children often as well.   She was always available to babysit, gladly, if any situation arose. Her grandkids adored her, and she them.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Royal, sister and brother in law Bobbye and Ralph Adkins, nephew Ralph Adkins Jr, niece Nita Castillo and nephew Tony Castillo. Left to grieve her passing are children Marcia (Brian) Gustin of Ogallala, NE; Woody and Stephanie (Castor) Woods of Akron, CO; Bruce and Valerie (Friesen) Woods of Benkelman, NE; grandchildren Austin (Danielle) Woods, Branden (Sydney) Woods, Megan (Trent Ham) Woods, Morgan Woods, Brianna Woods, Shelby (Russell) Miller, and Seth (Makenna) Woods, 4 great grandchildren with 2 on the way, great niece Jessica Castillo, great nephew Ben Castillo and many other relatives and dear friends.

Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.