Thomas "Tom" Wood '72
March 5, 2019 2:22 PM
updated: March 5, 2019 2:28 PM
Garrett Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service obituary
311 S.W. Second Street
Checotah, OK 74426
Phone: 918-473-2244
Fax: (918) 473-2316
Thomas "Tom" Joseph Wood
February 11, 1939 - February 16, 2019
Thomas Joseph Wood was born February 11, 1939 in Long Beach, CA, to Dale Wood and Virginia Varnes Wood. Tom’s parents divorced when he was a small child. He went to live with his paternal aunt, Betty Clark & her husband Ray in Sioux City, IA. Tom was the Clarks’
only child & he considered them his parents. He graduated Leeds High School in 1957 & went on to attend Morningside College in Sioux City. In the fall of 1958, he transferred to Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX where he received his BF in Forestry
& MF in Forest Recreation Management. After graduation, Tom enlisted in the Army & served in the 8th Infantry Division from 1961-1964, stationed in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. While home on leave in 1963, Tom married Karen Johnson in Spencer, IA. After his discharge
in 1964, he took a job with the US Forest Service at Chadron, Nebraska. Tom & Karen welcomed a daughter, Katherine Ann, in 1964 & a son, Wade Thomas, in 1966. The Wood family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where Tom received his PhD in regional planning & development
from Texas A & M University in 1972. In 1974, the Woods moved to Vicksburg, MS where Tom worked at the Waterways Experiment Station. In 1976, they located to Duluth, MN where Tom was a professor at the U of M/Duluth as director of the Lake Superior Basin Studies
Center. In 1984, Karen & Tom divorced. In 1985, Tom spent time teaching at the Peoples Republic of China Nankai University in Tianjin. He also led groups to Ecuador & Costa Rica. In 1987, his program at the U of M/Duluth was cut. Tom purchased a historic bank
building in Dorset, MN, a small tourist town in rural MN. He converted it to a giftshop, Woodstock North, and lived in the back of his giftshop. In 1988, Tom accepted a teaching position in the Hospitality & Tourism Dept. at the University of Wisconsin/Stout
in Menomonie, WI. In 1992, Tom married Larren Harding, owner of Fremont’s Point Resort near Park Rapids, MN. They spent the tourist seasons living at Fremont’s Point, operating the resort and giftshop. During the school year they lived in Las Cruces, NM where
Tom was a professor at New Mexico State University. Tom retired from teaching in 1993. He continued to assist developing countries with tourism projects, working as a volunteer for the State Dept. He traveled to Slovakia & Romania several times, as well as
enjoyed the winter months on South Padre Island, TX. In 2000, the Woods sold the resort & gift shop, moving to Lake Eufaula near Larren’s family farm. After extensive heart surgery in 2002, Tom was no longer able to travel. He continued to do volunteer work
at the Methodist Mission & taught courses at both the Eddie Warrior prison for women & the Jesse Dunn facility for men. He was a firm believer in serving wherever he could & belonged to numerous civic organizations wherever he lived. He was a member of the
First United Methodist Church in Checotah, OK. In 2004, Tom & Larren built a log home on her family farm near Council Hill. Tom began planting pine seedlings, returning to his passion for forestry. He took up beekeeping as a tribute to Ray Clark, an employee
of Sioux Bee Honey, who had raised him. He was an avid duck hunter, loved watching high school sports, enjoyed anything related to the Civil War & was a member of the Friends of Honey Springs. Months before his death, Tom gifted an antique Civil War pistol
(a family heirloom through three generations, passed from grandfather to grandson) to the Oklahoma Historical Society for display at the Honey Springs Battlefield. Tom died peacefully at home on February 16, 2019, having lost his battle to Parkinson’s Disease
& congestive heart failure. He is preceded in death by all four of his parents & grandson, Mike Bucci. He is survived by his wife, Larren & best friend Shiloh of the home, daughter Katherine Mitchell (fiancé Manny Morales) of Round Rock, TX, son Wade (wife
Jenny) of Landenberg, PA, grandsons Tyler Mitchell, Ypsilanti, Mi, Kyle Mitchell (wife Hannah), Brooklyn, MI, & River Wood, Landenberg, PA. Survivors also include step -daughters, Desmon Johnson (husband Ken) of Seminole, OK, Diane Bucci of Evergreen, CO,
grandson Steven Johnson (wife Christina), Seminole, OK, granddaughter Susie Lynn (husband Vince), Castle Rock, CO & 5 great-grandchildren, Steve, Angelina, & Daniel Johnson, Lila & Winnie Lynn. Tom is also survived by two sisters, Virginia Mills (husband John)
of Piedmont, SC & Claudette Joshi (husband Sada) of Tulsa, OK and two brothers, Mike wood (wife Barbara), Sioux City, IA & Mark Wood, Paradise, CA, and Tom’s first wife & mother of his children, Karen Wood of Round Rock, TX. In keeping with Tom’s wishes, he
will be cremated & interred at Fort Gibson National Cemetery.
Events
FEB
20
Friends and Family Visitation
Wednesday, February 20, 2019, 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Garrett Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service
311 S.W. Second Street
Checotah, OK 74426
FEB
21
Memorial Service
Thursday, February 21, 2019, 12:00PM
Ft. Gibson National Cemetery
1423 Cemetery Rd.
Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma 74434
Final Resting Place
Fort Gibson National Cemetery
ort Gibson, Oklahoma
Memorial Contributions
In Lieu Of Flowers, First United Methodist Mission,
419 W. Gentry Ave., Checotah, OK 74426
In Lieu Of Flowers, Friends Of Honey Springs
1863 Honey Springs Battlefield, Checotah, OK 74426
In Lieu Of Flowers, American Legion Post # 21, 118 S. Broadway St., Checotah, OK 74426