Conway Wood

Freeman Conway Wood, born July 6, 1923 on his families ranch north of Hollis, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents, David Albert Wood and Annie Irene (McCarty) Wood; wife, Eunice Helen Wood; brothers and sisters, Oma Orveda, Linza Verner, Lifus Wilder, Romie Doile, Eva Zeta, and Oveta Inez.

He was educated at Tea Cross Grade School, Dryden High School, and Daraughns Business College of Wichita Falls, TX.

During war times he worked and helped operate the Penny-Wise Grocery and Woods Famous Foods, owned by his brother Lifus, while Lifus was in the Navy. After that he obtained a government job with Soil Conservation Service in Hollis, OK as a clerk until 1959 when he transferred to the State Office of Soil Conservation in Albuquerque, NM. In 1963 he went to work for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Shiprock, NM where he worked until he retired in 1980. During the seventeen years he worked in Shiprock he commuted from Cortez to Shiprock every day.

In 1947 he met the love of his life Eunice Helen Bradley, and was happily married in 1947. Conway and Eunice had four children, Barry Lynn in 1948, David Bradley in 1951, Robin Gail in 1953, and Robert Brent in 1961.

On September 4, 1954 he was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry at The Annual Western OK Association. During his time as a Primitive Baptist Minister he served as a Pastor of many churches. Upon passing he was serving as Pastor of Rio Grande Primitive Baptist Church in Rio Rancho, NM. He was a “people person” and this fit ministry to a T. He would visit his friends and acquaintances in the hospital and nursing homes. He performed 86 weddings and presided over 166 funerals.

He was dedicated to helping and serving the senior community. He spent over 60 years working with various senior programs. It began in Hollis, OK before any state or federal funds were available. He formed a singing group and went before the elderly and sang gospel songs. He was instrumental in establishing senior centers in Cortez, CO and Mena, AR and was currently working on a multi-generational facility for the west side of Albuquerque. He also served as a board member on the Area Agency on Aging and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE).

He is survived by his children, Barry (Lori) Wood of Los Lunas, NM, David (Doris) Wood of Rio Rancho, NM, Robin (Everitt) Williford of Dolores, CO, and Robert (Letitia) Wood of Albuquerque, NM; he is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

His last and parting words were “I want to see my Savior and look upon his face. Amen”

A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020, 9:00 a.m. with a Funeral Service to follow at 10:00 a.m. at FRENCH – Westside. Interment will follow at Sandia Memory Gardens.