Dee Woodward

Dee A. Woodward, 81, passed away on March 29, 2023. Dee was born in Tucson, Arizona to Ed and Dorothy Alsup on February 5, 1942 while her father was building natural gas pipelines to supply copper mines for World War II. In first grade she went to seven different schools in seven different states, as the family was following pipeline construction. The family settled in Farmington, New Mexico. Dee spent most of her high school career in Farmington, but graduated from a LA high school her senior year. Dee always had a keen interest in nursing, and was very good at not panicking during health crisis's unless it was one of her own. She spent some time taking nursing classes after high school. Dee met and later married John Woodward in Ft Sumner, New Mexico and raised her children in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dee worked as a meat wrapper for several different grocery store chains until her retirement. After her retirement she traveled some and in 2006 she moved to Ruidoso, New Mexico to be closer to family. During her time in Ruidoso, she became involved in The Optimist Club where she served as Secretary and received Optimist of the Year several times. Dee also worked and volunteered at the Ruidoso Public Library. She was an avid reader and loved books. Dee had a passion for animals, having many pets over they years including dogs, cats, and even a beloved bull snake named Honeycomb! Dee loved to socialize and be apart of the party!

Dee was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, and her son John Earl Woodward, II. She is survived by 3 granddaughters: Landree Steadman of Canyon, Texas, Lexie Woodward of Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico and Lynette and Dustin Prelo of Ruidoso, New Mexico. She is also survived by a sister and brother-inlaw, Cyd and Vernon Beevers of Alabama, and daughter-in-law Tammy Woodward of Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico and 2 great-grandchildren, Lincoln and London Prelo of Ruidoso, New Mexico.

A celebration of life will be held later this summer. The family requests that any memorial donations be made to the Ruidoso Public Library.