Obituary of Maurine Woods

Maurine Woods, 88, died January 29,2021 of complications from COVID at the Tucson (Arizona) Medical Center hospice house. Maurine Leona Neufeld was born on June 27, 1932 on the farm that her grandfather homesteaded near Hanston, Kansas to Albert and Anna (Miller) Neufeld. She was baptized as a teenager and became a lifelong member of Hanston Mennonite Church. She graduated from elementary and high school in Hanston. She then attended Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas and graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Maurine worked at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas from 1955-1962 as secretary to the Assistant Dean of Medical Students. From 1962-66 she worked as secretary to the Associate Dean for Medical Students at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was there she met her future husband and followed him to Tucson, Arizona. In Tucson she worked as secretary to the chief engineer of the Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak Observatory from 1966-80.

Maurine married Dr. Alexander Hamilton “Sandy” Woods in 1967 in Tucson at the Saint Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church where she attended until she no longer was able. She spent many hours keeping their house immaculate and caring for the surrounding yard full of trees, shrubs, flowers, and native desert growth. She and Sandy enjoyed the company of their beloved adopted stray cat “Fifi”. They also enjoyed golfing for many years.

She was preceded in death by her husband Sandy in 2008. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Albert and Anna Neufeld, sister and brother-in-law Arlene and Menno Stucky, and sister Lois Neufeld. Survivors include niece Marilyn (Lee) Brockmueller of Freeman, SD, niece Dolores (Vern) Jantzen of Plymouth, NE, stepdaughters Lyda Woods of Medford, Oregon and Andrea Woods of Medford, Oregon, special nephew Arthur Hollinsworth of Dallas, Texas, and special friends Vern and Judy Russell of Tucson.

A private family gravesite committal service will be held later at the Hanston (Kansas) Mennonite Church.

In lieu of flowers, Maurine requested that memorials be made to one’s favorite charity.

Remembrances can be left at the Adair Funeral Home – Avalon Chapel (Oro Valley, AZ) website.