Obituary: Roland Keith 'Woody' WoodwardDecember 17, 1933- June 6, 2011

On Sunday, June 5, 2011, a fine old man rode away alone into his last sunset; his saddlebags were packed with everything he'd need on his journey ... all the love and respect his family and friends could send with him.

His Grandpa Sherrill had taught Woody to cowboy on the family ranch in northern Idaho, and though he was a working cowboy for only a few years, he lived his life the cowboy way filled with love and joy, hard work and honesty. He was good with all animals but especially so with horses and dogs. He loved telling stories ... blessings upon the heads of all of you who heard them more than once.

Woody was born Roland Keith Woodward on Dec. 17, 1933, to Earl Porter and Mary Grace Sherrill Woodward in National City, Calif., near his Grandpa Woodward's lemon and pecan groves. He was the middle child of three rambunctious boys.

Woody served his country for four years in the U.S. Air Force, leaving the service in 1956 as a staff sergeant. In 1958, while working as a lineman for the Great Northern Railroad in Washington State, he met the love of his life, Alberta Jordan; they were married on Jan. 19, 1959, and had two children, Brian Keith and Robin Marie. Woody adopted his wife's young son, Michael.

Byrd, as his wife of more than 52 years is known, and his daughter Robin were with him when he died Sunday just after sunset at the VA hospice in Prescott.

Woody was preceded in death by his parents and his grandparents.

He is survived by and will always be loved and missed by his wife, Byrd; his children, Robin of Prescott Valley and Brian of Houston, Texas; and his brothers, Ralph Morgan and his wife Kay of California and Earl Phillip and his wife Betty of Vancouver, Wash. He is also vigorously survived by his beloved grandson Augustus James and Gus' father, Michael Bennett of Dauphin Island, Ala., and his nephews Ryan and Keith Woodward.

Woody's body was donated to Biological Resources of Phoenix, where he will in time be cremated.There will be no services at this time.

'May his wounds heal quickly and his gentle light shine like the dawn.'

Information provided by survivors.