May 29, 1915 – September 26, 2009 The soul of our sweet mother and grandmother, Ellen Wood, entered the kingdom of her Heavenly Father on Saturday morning, September 26, 2009. We were very blessed to have the privilege of the influence of such a wonderful Christian woman. We will miss her and always love her.
Ellen was born on May 29, 1915, at Leonard, Texas. She was the only child of Hugh Melton and Birdie Rigney Melton. She attended public schools at Amherst, Texas and Leonard before attending North Texas State Teachers’ College at Denton, Texas.
Ellen was a pretty, blond college student when she met another student, a tall, dark haired, handsome young man named Leslie Wood. They were married in Leonard on July 18, 1937, and shared 44 happy years together until his death on March 27, 1981. Leslie was most definitely the love of her life. Ellen was always proud to be his wife, the mother of his children, and the grandmother of their children. She dearly loved caring for all of her family, and her grandchildren lovingly called her Big Momma.
Leslie and Ellen lived in Sherman as newlyweds, and their first child Mary was born while living there. They soon moved to Sadler, Texas, to the Wood family farm, the place where Leslie grew up. Their second child Prince was born while living there. In 1947, they purchased and moved to their own farm on Whitesboro FM 901. This is where they lived when their third child Polly was born, and this was their home for the remainder of their time together.
While still a young girl, Ellen came to know and accept Jesus as her Lord. She attended the Presbyterian church with her mother while growing up, and then she attended and served in the Baptist church when she married Leslie.
Leslie was a deacon at Sadler Baptist Church, and Ellen was proud to serve her Lord as a deacon’s wife and Sunday school teacher. She also spent a few years as a janitor, proudly cleaning the church she loved so much. She was always willing to assist Leslie in his business ventures, from building houses to owning and operating a farm and grade-A dairy. They spent many years milking cows before becoming the owners of Wood Insurance Agency in Whitesboro. Leslie served as commissioner for precinct 3 of Grayson county for 12 years, and Ellen was always happy to assist him in any way she was needed.
A few years after Leslie’s death, Ellen joined the First Baptist Church of Whitesboro. She loved the fellowship she had with the people there, and was a faithful member and attended services there until failing health kept her from doing so. Ellen was able to live in her home until September 2006, when she moved to the Collinsville Care Center where she passed away.
Ellen was predeceased by her parents, her dear husband Leslie, a granddaughter Joy Wood and a great-grandson, Ricky Peregrine. She leaves to cherish her memory 3 children, Mary Stark and husband Bobby of Dallas, Texas, Prince Wood and wife Melba of Sadler, and Polly Earnhart of Whitesboro. She also leaves grandchildren Eddie Wood and wife Jean of Whitesboro, Tony Wood of Savoy, Texas, Marcie Arterberry and husband Freddie of Madill, Oklahoma, Lesley Regalado of Dallas, Mark Earnhart of Wylie, and Clint Earnhart of Dallas, as well as several great grandchildren.
A celebration of Ellen’s life will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, September 28, 2009, at the First Baptist Church in Whitesboro. Internment will follow at the Sadler Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Meador Funeral Home in Whitesboro. A family visitation will be from 4:00 until 6:00 PM on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at the funeral home.