Jack Woodyard

The “Supporting Limb” has fallen from our family tree. I hear his voice that says, “Grieve not for Me”...been there, done that!  Jack Woodyard, 90, peacefully passed away on Aug. 3, 2015 at Monument Hill Nursing Home in La Grange surrounded by his two daughter’s, Denise and Janet, one on each side holding  his hand, his grandson Casey, granddaughter, Christy andfriend Rochelle nearby. He was prayed with and over by Pastor J.Paul Bruhn who also played his guitar and sung for Jack in his last hour on this earth. It was almost like a soothing lullaby sung for him to begin his journey to heaven. Jack was born on Oct.  20, 1924 in Houston to George Leslie and Vallye Tombaugh Woodyard. Jack was born and grew up in Houston. In 2010, he came to live with his daughter, Denise in La Grange. City boy turned country on his ranch and got his first blue jeans! He graduated from John H. Reagan in Houston in 1942. After high school he worked for L–K Pump & Valve. By then, WWII had started and Jack was getting deferments from the draft. At age 19, he declined deferments as he had decided to go into the service. Jack joined the Army in 1943  and served for two years, 23 days. He served in WWII and landed D-Day + one as a tanker in the 738th Medium Tank Battalion. He was the recipient of WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign  Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign with 3 Bronze Stars. He was discharged in 1945 achieving the rank of Tec. 5. He was truly one of the Hero’s from  The Greatest Generation! After the war, Jack went to work for the Washington Nat’l Insurance Co. doing work on a debit. In a little over a year, he decided to do what he loved to do and that was to go back to being a machinist. He got a job with Bowen Tool Co. of Texas working third shift making $1.50 an hour. He worked his way up to third shift foreman, then second shift foreman and day shift foreman. In 1955 he became assistant shop superintendent and finally superintendent over Bowen Tool Co. In 1968, first doing his own work on weekend s, he began his own shop, Deephole Machine Co. This shop grew so large that Jack had to leave Bowen in order to keep up with his own company. At its best, he employed around 40 men and kept the shop open 24 hours a day.  Jack ended selling his company in 1991, so that he could enjoy retirement. Jack married his first wife Wanda Landes in 1947 in Houston and together they had two daughters, Denise and Janet. He married his second wife Joyce Sullivan in 1959 in Houston. They were happily married for 44 years. They enjoyed hosting parties, family holidays, hunting, fishing and R.V. Traveling together. The “Big Kahuna,” as he was nicknamed by his children took the entire family to Big Bend, Hawaii and Cancun, where the family shared lots of laughs and family time together. Mother’s Day was always a big deal to Jack. He said if it wasn’t for Mothers none of us would be here. He would put the family up in hotel rooms for Mother’s Day weekend in Galveston. Everyone was on their own Saturday, but on Sunday, everyone  was expected to honor Mothers with a nice lunch. Having two daughters in the educational system allowed Jack to show his loving spirit providing Thanksgiving baskets  (he said no one should not have a Thanksgiving dinner), eye exams and glasses, attending Patriotic activities and sharing stories of his time fighting in WWII with the children, as well as sponsoring his grandson’s little  league baseball teams. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, George Leslie Woodyard and Vallye White, his brother Leslie (Woody) Woodyard, his wife Joyce Woodyard, his grandson Paul Woodard, his step-daughter Sharon Kirk, and  his step-son Mike Sullivan. Jack is survived by his daughters Denise Woodyard of La Grange, Janet and husband Henry Tracy of Kingwood; his brother Kelly Woodyard of Tomball; sister-in-law, Hazel Woodyard of Tomball; Sister-inlaw Margaret and husband Robert Merchant of Baytown; his daughter-in-law, Shay Sullivan of Katy; his grandchildren, Casey Woodard, Christine Hill of La Grange, Clay and Kyra Tracy of Gun Barrel City, Beth Tracy of Houston, Tiffany Tracy of Kingwood, Pam and Newt Huffman of Poolville, Shellie Kirk of Weatherford, John, Mike and Patrick Sullivan of Katy; greatgrandchildren Nevada, Clayton, Zane, Claudia, Kaylee, Ashlynn, Ava Rose, Tyler, Sarah, Tori, Lindsey, Rachel, Megan, Paisley and Piper; his nieces and nephews, Vallye, Kim and husband Wayne, Joy, Jamie Lynne and husband Eddie, and Victor. A memorial service will be held at Forest Park East, 21620 Gulf Fwy. in Webster (281- 332-3111) on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015 at 10 a.m. A visitation will  be held at Forest Park Funeral home. The family will be greetingfriends and relatives on Friday, Aug. 7, 2015 between 5 to 8 p.m. Burial will follow at Forest Park Cemetery. Pall bearers are: Casey Woodard, Clay Tracy, Newt Huffman, Patrick Sullivan, Bud Tracy and Tim Tracy, Jack will be dearly missed  by all family and friends that loved his humor, caring nature, never ending stories and love he showed to all he knew. He never met a stranger and  was loved by all! After fighting your last battle, may you rest in peace dear, dear Daddy.   In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Gardenia Janssen Animal Shelter 240 Svoboda Lane, La Grange, Texas 78945. A get together for celebration of life and to share a meal will be held after the service at Forest Park’s Reception Room.