Clarence Ivan Woods Obituary

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Clarence Ivan Woods, 96, of Memphis died Monday, October 5, 2020 at Scotland County Hospital in Memphis.

He was born the son of Arthur Glen and Verna Lucille (Chancellor) Woods on December 10, 1923.   Ivan and his siblings were born and raised on the family farm at the south end of Miller bottom.   He attended grade school at Oak Forest Country School.

He was inducted into the United States Army on February 18, 1943 during World War II and served with the 757 Tank Battalion in the European Theater – first in Africa and then in Italy, where he was wounded on the French border on June 10, 1943.   He was awarded a Purple Heart for his injuries sustained in battle, along with European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two bronze stars, a World War II Victory Medal, an African Theater Ribbon and a Good Conduct Medal.   Ivan was honorably discharged on November 10, 1945.

Ivan followed the wheat harvest with his brother and cousins after he left the army.

Ivan married the former Jeannetta Lee Morrison on December 21, 1947 in a double-wedding ceremony with his cousin, Paul, and his bride, Shirley Chancellor, at the Richland Baptist Church.   Jeannetta preceded him in death on May 13, 1993.

To this union eight children were born: Paul, Bonnie, James, Randy, Charles, Hollis, Kevin and Gaylene.   The Woods family lived on his grandfather’s (Stacy Woods) farm, south of Crawford where Ivan farmed, drove the school bus for 15 years and worked at Scotland County Hospital as a custodian for over 10 years.  In his spare time he mowed yards and cemeteries until Memorial Day 2020.

Ivan married the former Virginia Marybelle (Chambers) Heckethorne on April 5, 1997. They resided in Memphis.  She survives.

He was a proud, lifetime member of the NRA. 

On August 16, 2014 Ivan flew his maiden flight on a commercial airline (Southwest) while traveling with the Great River Honor Flight #26, with his daughter, Bonnie, as guardian.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeannetta; a son, Paul A. Woods; sister, Evelyn Dee Garrett; brother, Avon Eugene Woods; a brother in infancy; daughter-in-law, Anita Woods; sons-in-law: Bob Schultz and Ray White.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, of the home; daughters: Bonnie Schultz and Gaylene Woods-White, both of Kirksville; sons: James Woods of Arbela, Randy Woods and wife Karen Shippen, Charles Woods and Janette Graham, and Kevin and wife Debbie Woods, all of Memphis, Hollis and wife Connie Woods of Keokuk; a sister, Ada Lucille Cossell of Reasoner, IA; sisters-in-law: Verlee Dauma of Memphis and Glenna Tolliver of St. Peters, MO; step daughter-in-law, Phyllis Heckethorne, of Memphis; 23 grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, step-grandchildren, step great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services were held Saturday, October 10 at the Gerth Funeral Chapel in Memphis with Dan Hite, pastor of the Memphis First Baptist Church officiating.   Judge Richard E. Webber read a eulogy.  P.T. Woods, Jon Rader, Tuff Woods, Bryan Woods, Stacey Woods and Melvin Lee Rimer served as pallbearers.  Alison Widmer, Jennifer Woods, Andrea Krog, Keary Curry, Jeannetta Scrogins, Kim Woods, Emily Woods, Gregory Woods, Heather Woods, Nicholas Woods, Andy Woods, Halea Woods, Faith Miller, Sean Woods, Matthew Woods, Jeannetta Fuller and Curtis Fuller served as honorary pallbearers.   The casket was escorted to the cemetery by the Patriot Guard.  Burial was in the Memphis Cemetery with military rites performed by the Wallace W. Gillespie Memorial V.F.W. Post #4958 of Memphis and the Missouri Military Honors Program.  Sgt. Andy Woods presented the flag.

Memorials are suggested to the Great River Honor Flight or the Scotland County Nutrition Site and can be left at or mailed to: Gerth Funeral Service, 115 S. Main St., Memphis, MO 63555.

Condolences can be sent to the Woods family by signing the online guest book at gerthfuneralservice.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Gerth Funeral Service.