Louise Marie Wood

Louise Marie Wood was called to Heaven at age 99 on Sunday, March 19, 2017. She suffered from Alzheimer’s for several years. Most recently, she fought an incredibly valiant battle against squamous cell cancer. Louise was the eighth child born to John Marion and Emma Katherine (Seligmann) Tillard on July 20, 1917 in Nichols, Iowa.

John died from a farming accident in 1926. Fortunately, the grown children returned to help their mother and older school children continue farming. By high school, Louise and her mother had moved to a nearby town, and enjoyed the modern conveniences. After graduating from Letts High School in 1935, Louise attended Cornell College for a year, before joining two sisters in Denver, Colorado. She attended and graduated from Barnes Business School.

In 1959, Louise met and married her soul mate, William ("Bill") Henry Wood Jr., which involved an active household of raising two daughters and two sons. When their youngest was in high school, Louise became active in the local International Toastmistress organization. She became a proficient speaker, as well as the leader of the northwestern region, which included a trip in 1985 to the international meeting in Australia.

In 1989, Louise and Bill moved to Peoria, AZ, where they lived in Westbrook Village and were active in Willowbrook Methodist Church. In 2010, they moved to Sierra Winds, where they lived in an apartment until March, 2014. They celebrated their 54th Anniversary in 2013. Louise’s beloved husband died June 25, 2014.

Now, Louise leaves behind her loving family, including her 4 children: Bill III (Squim, WA), John (Surprise, AZ), Joyce (Tucson, AZ), Shelley (Peoria); her 8 grandchildren: Jennifer, Sean, Shannon (all in WA), Brian and Jason (both in WA), Julie (NY), Terry (Pine Top, AZ), Kelly ( The Netherlands); 8 great-grandchildren as well as 2 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Sunland Mortuary (15826 Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ) on Sat, April 22 at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Louise’s honor to the American Cancer Association.