Margaret Bernice Wood

Margaret Bernice Wood was born January 10, 1931, in Pauls Valley, OK, and passed away May 20, 2026, at the age of 95. Her life was shaped by the steady dignity of work, the plainspoken clarity of honesty, and a spirited independence that never needed to announce itself to be known.

Growing up, Margaret learned early what it meant to carry responsibility with quiet strength. She went to school in the little schoolhouse up on the hill—two classes sharing one room—and then went home to the work that waited. She helped on her daddy’s farm, doing chores, picking cotton and pecans, and remembering the comfort of her mom’s pecan pie. The only girl among seven brothers, she held her own with a feisty resolve and a loyal heart, rooted in family and in the everyday tasks that build a life.

Margaret married rather than finishing high school, choosing love and the future it promised. Decades later, she and her husband, Bill, returned to that unfinished chapter and earned their GED together—proof that perseverance does not fade with time, and that “Live and Learn” was never just something she said, but something she lived.

Margaret’s story with Bill began in an ordinary moment that became, in hindsight, a turning point. Her mother cleaned houses, and one day Margaret helped her clean a house after a party. There she met Bill, the brother to the homeowner. She liked to tell the story of a fella pestering her to take her out while she worked at the soda counter—until she pointed out that this guy (Bill) over here was walking her home. She recognized him from that day of housecleaning. He did walk her home, and the rest was history. They were married on December 21, 1946, and had two sons.

After Bill accepted a civil service job at Luke Air Force Base, they moved from Oklahoma to Glendale, AZ. There they raised their sons and helped raise grandkids, building a home marked by loyalty, steadiness, and the kind of love that shows up day after day. Margaret and Bill celebrated each anniversary and Valentine’s Day until Bill passed in 1988—a tradition of devotion that carried its own quiet poetry.

Margaret was proud of her 22 years working for AJ Bayless. She liked to tell stories about the store, including the time Phoenix Suns players would come in for drinks while jogging by, or practice behind the store because the floors of the Old Jewish Community Center were being worked on. In her work, she brought the same hard-working reliability she brought to everything—showing up, doing the job well, and speaking plainly, with that unmistakable spark when something amused her.

Together, Margaret and Bill attended many VFW events and square-danced in matching outfits she sewed herself. There was practicality in her hands and personality in her stitches—an independent spirit that didn’t wait for someone else to make things happen.

At home, Margaret’s days were often filled with the comforting rhythm of making. She spent many years crocheting while watching the Phoenix Suns or the Diamondbacks, trying to catch every game. She took a ceramics class and created many pieces to display in her house for holidays, filling her spaces with color, memory, and the quiet satisfaction of something finished.

She loved gardening, too—rose bushes and plants everywhere in the backyard, and most days you could find her out there fighting the weeds. One of her great accomplishments was laying pavers herself and designing a courtyard area with a flagpole, a testament to her independence and her determination: if it needed doing, she could do it, and do it her way.

Margaret is known for two things she would say. First, the song “Bushel and a Peck”: “I love you a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck.” She thought that song was so cute, and it carried the warmth she gave so naturally. Second, she would say, “Live and Learn,” applying it to most every life experience—an honest, steady philosophy that met life as it was, and kept going.

Margaret was interviewed for an essay about her life last year in 2025. Here are her responses:

How do you want to be remembered: "I was a hard worker."

If my life were a book, I would like the last chapter to be: "Oklahoma, The Return"

How I wish to spend my last days: "Enjoying every moment."

My hopes for the future: "Whatever God thinks is right"

Margaret was the best Grandma and Great-Grandma.

The family would like to extend a thank you to the memory care at Palos Verdes. Margaret had many fun days on field trips and doing activities and crafts.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary, June 8, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The Funeral Service will follow from 11:00 am to 11:45 am. A Committal Service will take place at West Resthaven Cemetery from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm.

Grandma Wood will be greatly missed, and we loved her so much.