Dolores "Dee" J. Woodard

Dolores June “Dee” Woodard Dolores June “Dee” Woodard, age 93, of Joplin, Missouri, died on Thursday July 16th, in Hollister, MO, following a long-fulfilled life. Dee was born on September 17, 1933, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the daughter of the late Fronia E. (Young) and Nelson Tingler, Sr. She was the third youngest of ten children. When Dee was a young girl, she had her first taste of stardom. Dee and several others had a chance to try out for “Little Rascals”, a new show in Hollywood was trying to cast. She was very easy to pick out because she was the only blonde. Our star was born and she enjoyed her fifteen minutes of fame! She graduated from Shawnee High School in Shawnee, Oklahoma. She then went on to attend and graduated from the Oklahoma University (OU) School of Nursing in Norman, OK in 1955. She married her husband, Wayne A. Woodard, a prominent regional funeral director, who had recently been released from the United States Army. They were married on November 5, 1955, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Wayne preceded her in death on September 15, 2001. After Dee and Wayne were married, they moved to Bentonville, Arkansas, where she worked as a nurse and they had their first son, Steve Woodard. To receive a $400 raise, they moved to Hominy, Oklahoma. Dee was the head nurse at Hominy Hospital. Bruce L. Woodard and Valenda Dee Woodard were both born in Hominy. Six months after Valenda was born, they moved the family to Noel, Missouri. Dee was a stay-at-home mom in Noel and assisted at the funeral home. They moved to California, Missouri, for one year; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for one year; and Sikeston, Missouri, all while working as a nurse and sometimes the county health nurse. Dee and Wayne started their funeral home ownership in 1961 with the purchase of Woodard- Downey-Mooney Funeral Homes in Pineville, Anderon and Noel, MO. In 1967 they purchased Williams-Woodard Funeral Home in California, MO, later acquiring funeral homes in Otterville, MO, and Pilot Grove, MO. In 1976 they moved to Joplin and purchased Mason-Woodard Mortuary. They obtained four additional mortuaries; Hedge-Lewis Funeral Home in Webb City, MO in 1982, then Lohmeyer-Konantz Funeral Home in Lamar, MO in 1988, Ulmer Funeral Home in Carthage, Mo and Woodard-Freund-Thompson Funeral Home both in 1990. Dee as a long-time member of Mount Hope Church of Christ, formerly 4 th and Forest Church of Christ. She and Wayne were founding members of the California Church of Christ in California, Missouri. They were also, members of the Grove Church of Christ in Grove, Oklahoma. Dee was a devout Christian. She always taught classes and helped with VBS and Wednesday night meals. If the doors were open at the Church, Dee was there, with three children and a quiet heart to serve. She loved attending and hosting many Church functions. She and Wayne would attend neighboring Church revivals, Vacation Bible Schools, knocking doors to invite others to church, as well as Sunday Sing-alongs. She was a member of the National Evangelism with Sojourner’s Church of Christ Mission Group. The Sojourners have a home base where they receive letters from smaller Churches in need. The Sojourners would pack their R.V.’s and head to help that Church. She was a volunteer at Freeman Hospital. In 1986, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and later, was very proud to be a breast cancer survivor. She was also a longtime member of Soroptimist International of Joplin. She was also a MSSU Lionbacker. She is survived by three children; two sons, Steve Woodard and wife Elena, of Anderson, Missouri; Bruce Woodard and wife Kim, of Joplin, Missouri, and Valenda (Woodard) Moore and husband Shane, of Carthage, Missouri; one brother, Donald Tingler and wife Rita, of Indianapolis, IN; eight grandchildren, Cole Woodard and wife Alicia, Austin Woodard and wife Megan, Ashlee Schiller and husband Kevin, Julianne Bassett and husband Dan, Haley Tolliver and husband James, Alex Woodard and wife Hannah, Levi Moore, and Drew Moore; and fifteen great grandchildren; Everette, Mara, Ellie, Massey, Maggie, Kalloway, Addison, Auggie, Theodore, Booker, Dottie, Dominic, Derric, Luke, and Andy. Dee was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Woodard, her parents, Nelson A. Tingler, Sr. and Fronia E. (Young) Tingler; two brothers, Nelson A. Tingler, Jr. and Jay Dee Tingler; six sisters, Dorothy Lee Bowen, Mary Dean Vanderburg, Karletta Tingler, Betty Lou Tingler, Norma Jean Davis, and Joyce Marie Tingler. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at Mason-Woodard Mortuary. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. Wednesday until service time. Randy Wilson will officiate. If you have a cancer pin, scarf, hat, or a t-shirt, please wear it to Dee’s services. Entombment will be at Ozark Memorial Park Mausoleum. Memorial Contributions may be given to Soroptimist International of Joplin Camp Soroptimist or Soroptimist International of Carthage Mammogram Program. Online condolences may be made at www.masonwoodard.com. Arrangements are under the care and direction of her family at Mason-Woodard Mortuary.

Dolores "Dee" J. Woodard

September 17, 1933 - July 16, 2026