Lavenia Wood

Lavenia L. Wood, 102, of Nixa passed away on August 22, 2022, at Castlewood Senior Living Center where she had been residing. She was born April 25, 1920 in Nixa, daughter of Roy Richard and Mary Ellen Rice. She married Dr. W. Victor Wood on December 27, 1941 and they celebrated nearly 77 years of marriage. She graduated from Nixa High School in 1938 and lived in Kansas City, Missouri from 1940-1943 while Victor attended UMKC School of Dentistry.

After living a short time in Lake Forest, Illinois Lavenia returned to Nixa to start her role as a housewife and devoted mother of two children. She also worked several years as receptionist and bookkeeper alongside Victor in Nixa’s first dental office. She was a long time resident of Nixa where she enjoyed being active her entire life.

She was lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Nixa and enjoyed being on committees, volunteering her time and serving in her community. She also liked to cook and entertain, travel, exercise and spend time with family and friends.                            

She was preceded in death by her parents Mr./Mrs. Roy Rice and siblings Eugene Rice and Elnora Sprague. She is survived by two sons Steven (Susan) and Philip Wood (Mary), Sister Mary Holmes, nieces and nephews, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held on August 27, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Nixa.  Visitation will be held before the service from 11:00 AM until service time at 12:00 PM and a family and close friends burial ceremony later at Delaware Cemetery of Nixa. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Nixa First Baptist Church, 601 W. Wasson Dr. Nixa, MO 65714.