Arlene Woods

Avis Arlene Woods, 86, of Hutchinson, Kansas, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 21, 2026. She is now living the Heavenly celebration she lived her earthly life looking forward to!

Arlene was born in Beaver, Oklahoma, to Herb and Jessie Towle on March 23, 1940. She and her older sister Donna grew up on a farm outside of Follett, Texas. She attended school in Follett and graduated from Follett High School in 1958. The land in that part of the country didn’t produce real abundant farm crops, but it did produce some of the finest people you’ll ever meet!

Arlene attended Northwestern College in Alva, Oklahoma, where she obtained a degree in Elementary Education. While in Alva she met James (Jim) Woods. They were married on July 16, 1960, and graduated two years later. After one year in Arnett, Oklahoma, they moved to Buhler, Kansas, where they both taught at Buhler Grade School. In 1970 the family moved to Texas for a year in order for Jim to complete graduate school, then they moved back to Kansas, landing in Hutchinson, where they would live until 2019. In that year they moved to Carthage, Missouri, to be closer to family.

Arlene and Jim attended Bethany Church of the Nazarene in Hutchinson for 56 years. She was actively involved in the church for most of those years, serving in numerous capacities, including Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, board member (though that was probably her least favorite role!), Caravans volunteer, and countless committees for church decorations, meals, church celebrations, etc. And for years she and Jim were responsible for coordinating the church’s sacking of treats every December and handing them out after the Christmas service.

Arelene taught elementary school off and on for 20 years, primarily in the Buhler School district. When she wasn’t teaching, Arlene enjoyed gardening, crafting (“Jim, could you fashion something out of wood like this for me?”), and serving others in ways that are probably known only to her and the recipients because she didn’t publicize things like that. She had a servant’s heart and was always looking for someone who needed assistance or even just encouragement. She went to great lengths to make people feel included and she insisted that her children do the same. Oh, and she liked to sew and quilt. And if she wasn’t sewing and quilting then she was probably quilting and sewing! Over the years she made all kinds of clothes, including clothes for her granddaughters' American Girl dolls. She also quilted dozens of gifts for people, including full-sized quilts as high school graduation gifts for each of her nine grandchildren. With the arrival of grandchildren, Arlene and Jim attended dance recitals, Bible quizzes, gymnastics competitions, as well as tennis matches, and football, baseball, and basketball games.

Arlene and Jim were separated by his death in 2024 after nearly 64 years of marriage. They had four children together: Kale, Stacy, Monte, and Kara Dee. Monte died during childbirth in 1967 and did not get to experience the privilege of Arlene’s love and nurturing. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Donna Marlow.

Arlene is survived by three children: Kale Woods and wife Brenda of Platte City, MO; Stacy Woods and wife Nancy of St. Charles, MO, and a daughter, Kara Ledford and husband Dustin of Gretna, NE. She was blessed with nine grandchildren, Casey Woods (Melanie), Kori Phillips (Matthew), Becky Herrema (Jordan), Riley Ledford, Kati Louthan (Connor), Kelsey Moller (Garrett), Kaley Schaefer (Simon), Kelli Kenady (Colten), and Reed Ledford (Chadara). They also have 13 great-grandchildren: Levi, Lydia, Luke, and Lindsey Woods; Alivia Phillips; Jesse Herrema; Ada and Nell Moeller; Liam and Wyatt Louthan; Trace and Myla Schaefer ; and Ada Matthews.

A memorial service will be held in Arlene’s honor at 11:00 AM on June 22 at Bethany Church of the Nazarene, Hutchinson, KS. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 10:00 AM.

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