Grady Lott Wood Jr. (Woody) left our lives Tuesday, October 27, 2020. He was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina May 17, 1952 to Grady Lott Wood Sr. and Azeleen Hunter Wood. His childhood was filled with love and family. He, his sister and his brothers along with many cousins played and adventured as those of us did in the days of swimming in Catherine Lake, water skiing each summer for a few days in New River, visits to the beach nearby and the surrounding woods.
He spent many hours listening to his beloved grandfather, Papa, tell amazing stories while he would whittle on the front porch and fishing with him. Grady’s stories of tobacco field work with the other “old enough boys” and hog killings, along with the feasts prepared by his mother and other family members were wonderful. Mounds of fried chicken that left he and the other children hoping they would have some after the men finished eating, fish fries, and family meals.
Grady entered the Army at 17 and was stationed in Germany where he was assigned to motor pool. When his enlistment ended he returned to North Carolina and began what he termed as “his 10 year period”. During this time he worked construction and hitchhiked across the south spending time in Florida, Louisiana and Texas; often stopping at his sister’s in the Houston area. She shared a story of coming home and finding him on her steps just waiting with “his hippy hair and very artistic jeans with holes and eyeballs” per Joan. During this time he met friends that I have been blessed to know as well.
At the end of this period, he returned to the Army and was stationed in various places including Germany, Korea, New Mexico, Alabama and Tennessee. During his time in Korea, he married and welcomed her children as his own who he loved very much. He began working on various missiles including some at the rocket center in Huntsville. He proudly achieved the rank of Master Sargent Third Class. I married both an officer and a very good gentleman.
Upon retirement while in Clarksville, TN after his final assignment at Fort Campbell, he worked as a contractor including a time in Iraq. Grady has many friends still in his life from both these periods. He and his late wife opened a business in which they were very successful.
After her death, Grady entered the world of EHarmony. I had just entered it as well and I was among his first matches. We met and after the secure contacts,
met in person on a Friday after I finished work where he was staying. He had told his sister he would call her when he left Florence on Saturday. He called her Monday on the way to Florida. It was a wonderful visit and we were married one year later although he was here living four months later. His first proposal
was “you otta marry me”. When you find the one, as he surely was, you just know.
Grady is survived by me, Edie, and children Ben Howard, Chris and Melissa Howard, Brandon and Sarah Gillis, Chongsuk and Jim Leach, Chongson and Dale Patterson.
Grandchildren include Huiyoun Pyo, Dayoung Leach, Sooyoung and Ralph Mardis, Vann, Lyle, Simon and Knox Gillis. Great grandchildren are Ayli Tipton and Parker Mardis.
He is survived by his much loved siblings and spouses Joan and Jim Broadfoot, Keith and Peggy Wood and Charles and Karen Wood; my brothers, Andy Campbell, Larry and Stephanie Campbell, and Clyde and Debbie Campbell.
Also many loved cousins including his “brother” cousin, David “Skeet” Wood, wonderful nieces and nephews, including grandnieces and grandnephews, Aunts Mary Wood and Fran Hudson and a vast array of friends from his many differently traveled paths.
His service will be Monday, November 2, 2020 at Greenview Funeral Home at 1 PM with visitation from 11-1. While Grady did not die from Covid, we ask that you wear a mask and socially distance while attending the service. We would not want to lose you.
Grady had become an accomplished artist and was not able to have his art show as he was still creating. When we are able to hold that show, we will celebrate Grady and his life among his beautiful paintings with his favorite tequila.
My Grady has been described as a Renaissance man, a MacGyver. He was to us, his family and friends, just a truly good human being, a kind and gentle man with a love of being happy and a wicked sense of humor. Our adventure with him here is over and we will honor Grady with continuing the adventure and carrying his smile and spirit with us. Please do the same. Grady and I ended most days agreeing that it was another perfect day. May you have many perfect days.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Shoals CASA in Sheffield, AL (https://www.shoalscasa.org/) or Room in the Inn Shoals (https://www.roomintheinnshoals.com/).
