J.J. Wood

J.J. (John Jerroul) Wood was born June 7, 1941, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and died December 30, 2012, in Lubbock, Tx. His parents were John Jerroul Wood and Helen Thomas Wood. His father died when J.J. was seven, and he and his mother moved to Gruver, Texas.

J.J. contracted polio before the move to Gruver, and he rode the train alone to Dallas to the Scottish Rite Childrens Hospital to have surgeries and be treated for the polio in his right arm.

J.J. accepted Jesus as his Savior at the age of 9 and was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Gruver at the age of 12. He honored Christ throughout his life and was unwavering in his faith.

J.J. graduated from Gruver High School in 1960 and from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene in 1964. While at HSU, he met Sheralyn Snively, whom he married August 21, 1967, in Abilene, Tx.

J.J. had three desires in life and realized all three. He wanted to be a coach, a dad, and a paw paw.

His coaching/teaching career spanned 41 years and began in 1965 in Lorraine, Texas. His first job in Lubbock was at Thompson Junior High. Then he began his 27 year stint at Estacado High School in 1969. He was head boys basketball coach at Estacado for 22 years. He taught at Matthews Alternative School from 1996 through 2006. "Coach Wood" truly loved his students and players.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Sheralyn; a daughter and son-in-law, Heidi and Derek Spence of Fredericksburg, Tx; and a son and daughter-in-law, Tyler and Kristin Wood of Lubbock. Six grandchildren called him "Paw Paw." The Spence grandchildren are Gus, Abby-Kate, Janie, and Cora. The Wood grandchildren are Sadie and Wyatt.

J.J. was a genuinely good person, a man of honor and integrity, and a loyal friend. He was an eternal optimist. He was gentle. He loved people and was loved in return. It could be said of J.J. (as Will Rogers said of himself) that he never met a man he didn't like.

A celebration of J.J.'s life will be at 11:30 Saturday morning at Southcrest Baptist Church at 3801 S. Loop 289. Everyone is invited to stay for a barbecue luncheon at the church after the service. Online condolences may be offered at resthavenfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made to the Lubbock Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.A