Dana Sue Wood

Dana was born on November 4th, 1957 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Ida & Jerry Shields. From an early age, she was known for her gentle spirit, her warm smile, and her willingness to help anyone in need. She carried those qualities throughout her life, touching countless hearts with quiet strength and steady love.

Dana married Steve Wood on August 19th, 1988, and together they blended a family with 5 children. There was never a loss of laughter and devotion to one another. She was a devoted [wife/mother/grandmother/sister/friend], and nothing brought her more joy than time spent with her family—whether it was simple evenings at home, holidays together, or cheering on children and grandchildren at their events.

Dana is survived by her devoted husband Steve Wood, her mother, Ida Shields, her children Steven Wood, Cory Graham, Toni Shopp, Stephanie Lockaby and Brandi O’Brien, her grandchildren Ryan Selman, Terra Shopp, Trey Wood, Mia Rogers, Nadine Graham, Harper O’Brien and Haven O’Brien and great grandchildren Aaron, Jaxon, Jesselyn & Brooklyn. She is also survived by her brothers Mike and Mark Shields, and a host of extended family and friends who will miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by her Father Jerry Shields and grandparents Wilma and William Boyd.

A celebration of Dana’s life will be held on December 7th, 2025.

Visitation will be held from 12:00 – 2:00 at Cook Walden Funeral Home at 14501 N. Interstate Hwy 35, Pflugerville, TX,78660.

Funeral services will start at 2:00 at the same location with Joseph Shopp officiating. A graveside service will follow at the Cook Walden Cemetery.

Though our hearts are heavy, we rejoice that Dana is now in the presence of the Lord she loved, and we hold fast to the promise that we will see her again.

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Good Afternoon Everyone.

My name is Jessie Graham, I am Dana's daughter-in-law, and friend.

I want to thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the life and mourn the passing of Dana Sue Wood. She was born November 4th, 1957 and known to all as: Dana, then "Peanut" by her Daddy, "Mom" by her children, "Baby" by her man, mostly "Mamaw" to ALL.

On my side of the family we have a tradition for birthdays where we go around the table, sharing a birthday wish for the year to come. A kind word, or funny memory, hopeful messages, and expressions of admiration and love. It is in that vein, that I have spoken with many of you, and I have come to feel the whole impact, the imprint, of Dana's life, her legacy of love. I'd like to share some of those sentiment with you now.

Flowers made her happy, any day of the week. She had a Darling Innocence made of beauty and stillness, in her body and soul. With a great sense of humor and a willingness to laugh. However... Pops (Steve Wood) tells me she had that "one look"! He said, "We were watching Texas play, sitting on the couch and she asked me, "When they fire that cannon, where do those balls go?" To which he replied, "You don't see those people in the stands dodging?!" He busted out laughing... and with that "one look" on her face, she said, "That's not funny." She put him in his place but was always considerate with kindness and forgiveness. They liked to snuggle at bedtime, and she never has failed to say, “Sweet dreams baby, I love you.” "That's what she did. Love, kindness, and grace. That was Dana."(Pops). "She wasn't just another woman... she was terminally pretty." (The Eagles).

Dana's mother Ida Shields, once wrote a quote of her mother's, Louise Blevins, and it goes like this: When children are small, they step on your feet, and when they grow up, they step on your heart. This signifies the change in a mother's heart, from mothering care for her small child, to watching them grow and seeing them as your great joy! Ida wrote, "Every child is different... I love them all." She told me, "She was a little doll, she loved her daddy. When he came home from work she waited with her bike and peanuts, standing in the front door." "It was a long time ago, and peanuts... a round-3 inch can cost a nickel at the grocery store." Jerry (Shields) would say, "Okay Peanut jump on the back and well go for a ride." Dana drug her foot on spikes of that bike just enough to fall down. “She stood up and said, 'Look Daddy, I didn’t drop a nut!’"(Ida Shields).

Dana's little brother Mike (Shields), says she wasn't a judgy person. She was kind and always glad to see you: modest, kind hearted, understanding. She liked things simple and easy. Family was very important to her. He told me of a Carmel Apple he shared with her when she dropped hers off the train at Six Flags “…some 55 years ago.” "She went from sad to happy in one second flat!”

"Take it easy." (The Eagles).

Best advice from those who've been there (Brett Graham): there is no amount of preparation in this world, to prepare you for loss. You just have to keep going, keep putting one foot in front of another. It helps to remember her smiling. "She had such a beautiful smile. So sweet to us. She was a very special person... [who]had to go too soon."(Brett Graham).

She and Steve would play cards with friends, Paul and Barbara (Kieshnick), the Whirlpool game. Dana wasn't competitive, she didn't care about winning, rather didn't mind to lose. They'd go out to eat at restaurants for a good meal, go two-stepping in bars or really anywhere they could make a dance floor! "Out for a good time." (The Eagles). Dana introduced her friend Barbara to her now husband Paul, they've been married 38 years! I think Dana was a romantic.

Her favorite color was blue, her favorite gemstone, Blue Topaz! A Scorpio, one of us November babies! The kids have vivid memories of Mom cleaning and keeping the house tidy... she loved her antiques! But more so cooking food on the stove, for anyone home, or anyone who might come by.

Steven Jr. (Wood) remembers what he calls Goulash on the stove in a large pot... ALWAYS so good no matter what concoction was in there! Many times Mom would let him off grounding when Pops wasn't around! "She made room for people to come back and stick it out, together"

Toni (Shopp) HATED the frequently made, beef stroganoff! Oh- and Mom always drank TAB! Salsa was a special treat, "It was so good!". "She came and helped me cook my first meal, we were browning hamburger meat."

Brandi (O’Brien) remembers the coveted bags of Nacho-Cheese-Doritos she would snack on while in the kitchen, with the record player on, “there was always music in the house.”

And since I've known him, for every occasion... Cory (Graham) has never failed to ask, for her FAMOUS, Macaroni Salad! He remembers renting VCR's and horror movies from Blockbuster, he was hooked! And I gotta say, as his wife, thanks for that.

Stephanie (Lockaby) said, "She did what she could with what she had and that meant something to me.”

Mom was a woman of few words, but showed her love with a smile and nod. She put up with all the shenanigans, never losing her patience. She was first to pet animals, or feed neighborhood children. Mom was warm, and everything had its place in the house.... even when she would frequently rearrange the furniture! She couldn't offer them a lot of material things, or financial rewards. The best gift she gave, was her Shine. This kindness and ability to give people the benefit of the doubt. That genuine look in her eyes.

From Toni (Shopp), "I just want her to know she was a good mom."

From Brandi (O’Brien), "It felt like home no matter how often we moved. We felt comfortable, our needs were met, and love was apparent."

From Cory (Graham), "She always said I was easy to talk to. And she'd say, "I just love you."

She embraced everyone else who came into the family by marriage - I call us the Out-Laws. She gave hugs, kisses, smiles, and words of wisdom. A few of their remarks were:

From Joey (O’Brien), "When I met her for the 2nd, 1st time she smiled and told me not to break her daughter's heart... she was an affectionate person, or at least she was with me".

From Laura (Wood), "I remember her as extremely accepting and kind, feeling like home immediately... Her shiny hair and really good skin!”

From Joe (Shopp), "If we are allowed to sit with our thoughts, it hurts.”

Mamaw was always a comfortable place to be. Her grandchildren enjoyed running around playing at her house (Ryan Selman, Terra Shopp). They have fond memories of going over there to be with everyone (Trey Wood).

From Mia (Rogers), "Mamaw would never think poor of you... she represented what it means to be family.”

From Nadine (Graham), "She made your accomplishments feel like her accomplishments... like she was right there in it with you. She was tenderhearted, I loved her alot and I'm sorry she's gone."

Mamaw was always laughing and loving the company of her family.

In talking with everyone, I've been trying to answer this question:

What was it about this person, whose absence beckons such huge emotional tragedy and loss for so many people?

Her favorite scripture:

Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me."

One I like:

Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Today, I think she would have liked:

Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."

Cory (Graham) shared, "She stays with me. No matter how long it has been since you were together, even those 2-minute conversations were like no time had passed. She shared with me her mustang-love, and her favorite color Blue."

Dana was humanly fallible, and at the same time angelically innocent, and beautifully humble. She was a beautiful kind woman. An unassuming good nature. There was a grace about her beauty, a bold confidence inside. I think she had a heart full of love and every time she had kind words sent to her, like a card, a birthday wish, a hug, whispers of sweet nothings. She would cry and I would ask HER, "Honey why are you crying?" She'd just say, "That’s just so sweet. It breaks my heart."

Dana Sue Wood was an unassuming, humble, relaxed, woman with at times a risqué sense of humor. She wanted to be seen for her best and ignore the rest! My first impression of her was that she was an old soul. She had a quiet stillness with a soft gaze and a warm smile. We have things in common: like we share a birth date 11/04, she had twins and I AM a twin, oh and we share a fondness for tradition.

The Date, AUGUST 19th: Of 1953: Her Momma & Daddy, Ida & Jerry Shields were married; this year would have been 72 years of marriage.

In 1988: She & Pops, Dana & Steve Wood were married; this year marked 37 years.

And in 2004: My wedding...to Cory Graham, this year marks 21 years.

All together we have celebrated 130 years of matrimony! How do you like that!

She told me once, "I love the way y’all love each other."

She said recently, "You're the best thing that ever happened to my son."

I thank you Dana, for giving me the love of my life.

Dana, your angelic glow, your Shine... of happiness, contentment, and love, will stay with us because we can remember your smile. We will remember your love in happiness and joy, in distant longing, through painful moments and future loss, because we can feel your cheeky kisses, and squeezy hugs. We can look for you in our Family & Friends. For there you are, alive in us.

Words Everlasting: "I really just love my mom." (Cory Graham).

Dana Sue Wood

November 4, 1957 - November 30, 2025

Eulogy Presented December 7, 2025

Written and Delivered by Jessie R. Graham