James “Jim” Victor Wood died March 6, 2022, following a car accident. He was 76.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on April 2, 2022, at Juniper Haven Cemetary in Prineville followed by a meal at the Elks Lodge to celebrate the lives of both Jim and Fawnie Wood.
Jim was born Oct. 4, 1945, in Bend, OR, to Jack and Shirley (Garfield) Wood. When he was an infant, his parents divorced and while he was still a young child his mom met and married his dad, Wendel “Bernie” Coonse. The family made their home in Prineville where Jim attended school with the exception of his freshman year when the family relocated to Seneca for a year. He graduated from Crook County High School in 1963 and joined the US Navy as a 17-year-old. He did most of his basic training in San Diego. He was a radar operator aboard the USS Ernest G. Small, a Gearing-class destroyer in the early days of the US involvement in Viet Nam. The Small sailed the Western Pacific and Asia. Jim had especially fond memories of his time spent exploring Japan.
In 1966 Jim was honorably discharged and returned to Prineville and the woman who was the love of his life, Fawnie Lynn Shrum. He and Fawnie were married on June 3, 1967, at Prineville Community Church and celebrated 52 years of marriage before Fawnie’s death on March 10, 2020.
Jim tried his hand at a few careers (including working at Hudspeth Lumber) before settling into the concrete business. He worked his way up from a concrete truck driver to the manager of Ochoco Ready-Mix. He retired in 2005.
After an initial appointment to the board of the Crook County Cemetary District, Jim was elected to serve more than once. Jim loved his work with the board and took great pride in serving the community. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting, fishing, and exploring rural Oregon. Jim was an excellent cook and did almost all of the cooking for his family, and unknown to most, he had a great singing voice. He loved country music, reading, rodeo, and college football. He delighted in being a grandpa and bought a smartphone so he could text his granddaughter. She was the only one he would text consistently.
He is survived by his daughter Jamie Wood of Prineville, and his son Cord Wood, daughter-in-law Josie, and granddaughter, Dacotah of Albany, OR. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.
The family wishes to thank the caregivers who took such wonderful care of Jim, especially Yana Cortez and Karen Riddle.
Bel-Air Colonial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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