Name: McWane Family Funeral Home
Address: Hemet, CA

Kathryn Mary Ann Woods-Larger than Life

Kathryn Mary Ann Woods

Kathryn “Mary Ann” Woods was born September 18, 1929 at Independence, Missouri, the first of five children of Warren Gilbert Sellers and Bessie Katherine Krause Sellers. Mary Ann was many things to many people in her life; daughter, sister, aunt, wife (several times), mother to 3 children whom she loved unconditionally, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, teacher, professional business woman and volunteer.

As a child Mary Ann lived in many locations while her parents traveled from state to state looking for work; Missouri, Texas, Washington and finally settled in Arizona in 1946. Mary Ann lived in Arizona until 1968, then moved with her two youngest children to Hemet, California where her beloved mother Bessie was living. She would say later in her adult life she rarely attended the same school two years in a row but developed some friendships that would last over most of her lifetime. According to Mary Ann, strangers were just friends she hadn't met yet and easily made friends wherever she called home.

While living in Arizona, Mary Ann worked as a dental assistant and as a dental laboratory technician (one of only 2 women lab techs in Phoenix Arizona) for 15 years which led to becoming an instructor at a school for training dental assistants in 1961. Mary Ann taught Dental Assistant School nights and managed the dental clinic for Maricopa County Health Department. After moving to Hemet, Mary Ann went to work as a medical receptionist for a short time. In the fall of 1968 she met Archie Woods, the owner and general contractor for Construction by Woods. On the 17th day of December of 1970 she and Archie were married. They worked and lived together until his death April 28, 1998. Archie inspired her to start real estate school in 1969 and Mary Ann obtained her license to sell real estate in 1970. Almost immediately she began working toward the goal of getting her broker's license and successfully completed the requirements, passed the state license examination, obtained her broker's license in January 1974 and became the owner broker of Real Estate by Woods in April of the same year. She was a very active member of the California Association of Realtors and Women's Council of Realtors, she had a passion to be ethical in her business practices throughout her real estate career and was instrumental in developing ethics guidelines for her fellow Realtors through her work with those organizations.

Ironically, her father was a carpenter by trade and began building homes in Arizona during the 1940's while her mother became a real estate broker and Star Realty was born.

Mary Ann developed an adventurous spirit at a young age which she attributed to growing up in a family that moved often. She enjoyed traveling with friends and frequently went on camping trips in the motorhome she and Archie purchased. Over the years she maintained a close relationship with her maternal grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins in Texas and participated in numerous family reunions each June in Bandera Texas.

Mary Ann was a volunteer for the Can Tree – Food Drive and the Hemet Police Department.

She blonged to several organizations:

Member of The First Baptist Church of Hemet

Lions Club

National Association Women in Construction 1973

President of the Hemet – San Jacinto Board of Realtors 1976

Vice-President of the California Association of Realtors 14th District 1979

President of the Women's Council of Realtors 1980-81

National Association of Realtors

The Order of Eastern Star Tahquitz-Victoria Chapter No. 241

Her survivors include daughter, Cheryl Fleming and husband Terry of Post Falls, Idaho; daughter Darlene Ransom and husband Charles; son, Daryl Hartlauer of California; brother Jon Sellers and wife Marlene of Anthem, Arizona; sister, Carol Eggen and husband Ted of Hemet, California; 6 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Virgil Sellers and sister, Sue Botts.

This poem was one her aunt Vinnie Krause used to recite at most family gatherings in the home of her grandpa and grandma Krause at Pipe Creek. Texas. Mary Ann noted that this was her favorite poem and she quoted portions of it many times during her lifetime.

RED SLIPPERS

When I was young, my slippers were red.

I could kick my feet right over my head.

As I grew older, my slippers were blue

And I could dance the whole night through.

Now I am old – my slippers are black.

I walk to the corner and push myself back.

I very well know that my youth is spent.

My “get-up-and-go” got up and went.

But I really don't mind-when I think with a grin

Of all the grand places my “get-up” has been.

I get up each morning and dust off my wits,

Pick up the paper and read the “obits”.

If my name isn't there, I know I'm not dead,

So-I eat a good breakfast-and go back to bed.

Mary Ann never wrote that journal she always said she wanted to write but she left us with copies of her favorite poems that she collected over the years and recorded her thoughts in many other ways including letters to loved ones, some delivered, some were not. Although the Alzheimer's disease stole her memories, her life is not defined by her illness. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when our lives will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is God's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day. I think Mary Ann did just that with her many accomplishments.

When a dear friend of Mary Ann passed away several years ago and she was mourning the loss of her friendship she remarked that she wasn't through being her friend. As I mourn the loss of my mom I recall those words she spoke and I was not through being her daughter and her friend, I just know that someday I'll see her again and those loved ones who have gone before her.

Grief never ends….but it changes. It's a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith….It is the price of love.

I'M FREE

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free

I'm following the path God laid for me,

I took His hand when I heard Him call,

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way

I found my peace at close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss

Ah yes these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I've savored much,

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now, He set me free.

God Bless you every day of your life. The nicest place to be is in someone's thoughts. The safest place to be is in someone's prayers, and the very best place to be is in the hands of God. Mary Ann is in God's hands now.

I am so sorry that Mary Ann has passed. I know her last years were difficult for all of you but it is always hard to let them go. Her smile and warm personality always filled the room. She was one strong lady, I will miss her.

OBITUARY

Kathryn Woods

September 18, 1929 – September 4, 2015

McWane Family Funeral Home

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