Gary Lee Wood, of Teresita, Missouri, passed away Monday, February 3, 2025, at the age of 82 years and 7 months. He was born June 18, 1942, to Richard Harry Wood and Ruth Irene (Pew) Wood.
He graduated from Birch Tree High School in 1961 before moving to the Kansas City area, where he worked for Owens-Illinois Forest Products and the Riverside Police Department. He married Sharon Kay Riddle on November 23, 1963, in La Russell, Missouri, and later moved to the Mountain View area to begin dairy farming in 1970. While in Mountain View, Gary was a large contributor to the farming community and served on several boards for the Dairy Herd Information Association, Dairy Farmers of America, and the Soil & Water Conservation for Shannon County. Locally, he was a long-time supporter of the Liberty High School FFA and 4-H programs.
Gary is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sharon, of the home; four children, Kimberly Kay Grubicy and husband Claudio, of Columbia, MO, Kevin Wood and wife Kristin, of Rolla, MO, Kent Wood and wife Tammy, of Springfield, MO, and Kayla Myers and significant other Benjamin Cooper, of Teresita, MO; 11 grandchildren, KC McKee, Zachary Stone, Lucas Stone, Jacob Stone, Kendra Wood, Kameron Wood, Nathan Wood, Landon Wood, Kaleb Wood, Megan Leingang, and Belle Hergesheimer; 5 great-grandchildren, Annabelle Wood, Rose Mary Wood, Amora Leingang, Sutton Leingang, and Carter Leingang; one sister, Carol Orchard, of Mountain View, MO; three brothers, Merrill Wood, of Troy, MO, Earl Wood, of Birch Tree, MO, Richard Harry Wood, Jr., of West Plains, MO, one sister-in-law, Margaret DeeDee Wood Schramm; and extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Leona Griffin; two brothers, Leon Wood and Glen Wood; sister-in-law, Donna Wood; daughter-in-law, Shayla Wood; and great-grandson, Sawyer Leingang.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 7, 2025, at Yarber Mortuary, Mountain View, Missouri. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1:00-2:00 p.m., also at the funeral home. Interment will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Teresita, Missouri, at a later date. Memorial donations may be sent to the FFA Chapter at Liberty High School; cards are available at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.
