Royal Woods

Royal Woods III, 92, of Wray, Colorado, passed away on July 30, 2014.  The funeral service was held at the Wray United Methodist Church on August 2, 2014.

Royal was born in Benkelman, Nebraska on August 16, 1921 to Royal and Leola (Jones) Woods, II  . He graduated from Haigler High School and continued on to the Grand Island School of Business in Grand Island, Nebraska.  Royal was inducted into the US Army in 1945 and honorably discharged in 1947, serving in counter-intelligence.

Royal was married to Helen Brumley on March 12, 1950.  They were married 64 years and to this union were born Marcia Gustin, Royal (Woody) Woods IV, and Bruce Woods.

Royal worked as a farmer/rancher his entire life.  Even after moving to Wray, Colorado, in 1987, Royal drove to Haigler on a daily basis to continue helping with the family ranch until March of 2009. Royal served on the Haigler School District Board of Education, Farm Credit Services Board of Directors, ASCS/FSA County Committee, as a Youth  Baseball Coach, and a member of the Haigler American Legion Post 134.  Although active in the community, family was very important to Royal and he had a musical ditty for every situation.

Royal is survived by and will be deeply missed by his wife,Helen Woods; Marcia and spouse Brian Gustin; Woody and spouse Stephanie, children Austin and Danielle, Branden and Sydney, Megan, and Morgan Woods; Bruce and spouse Valerie, children Brianna, Shelby and Russell, and Seth Woods; great grandchildren Madison, Bryson, and Jaxyn Woods; sister Laura Pearl Wall and brother Donald Woods, and other family and friends.

Royal is preceded in death by parents, Royal Jr. and Leola Jones Woods, sister Mildred Waters, and brother Raymond Woods.

Funeral services were held Saturday, August 2, 2014, 10:00 a.m. at the Wray United Methodist Church in Wray, Colorado with Rev. Norman Stott and Rev. Terry Douglass officiating. Interment was in the Haigler Cemetery in Haigler, Nebraska. Memorials may be made to the Haigler American Legion Post #134. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.