Marjorie Susan Wood

Marjorie Susan Wood, 93, passed peacefully from this life and into the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father on the morning of 30 August 2020, in the presence of caring nurses at Colonial Estates Nursing Home in Shawnee, where she was a resident. Marjorie was born on 6 October 1926 in Oklahoma City, the third of four children to Mary Aleene (King) Hook and Elmer Ralph Hook. She was preceded in death by her brother Wendell Hook and sister Beulah Williams.

She is survived by her younger sister, Francel Rose Wood, of Oklahoma City; her son Stanley Lyman Wood, of Chicago, Illinois; her cousin Alma (King) Henderson, of Oklahoma City; and her dear friend Willard [W.R.] Qualls, of Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Marjorie had lived throughout her life at many locations in Texas, in Oklahoma, and in New York City. She was the wife of the late Rev. Lyman Paul Wood, and spent her life fulfilling the roles of devoted pastor’s wife and support of her husband’s ministries, loving mother, and a remarkably gifted musician – providing her talents at the piano and organ, directing choirs, and as a soprano soloist in all the churches her husband served and in many other religious organizations. She glorified God in her inspired keyboard improvisations that were a blessing to all who heard. Her talents drew the attention of the leadership of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and she was offered a position in their musical ministries. Ultimately she declined that opportunity, feeling that she should continue to invest her full-time efforts to her husband’s churches and her family.

She enjoyed all types of music – especially sacred, classical, and popular music of the “big band” era. She was always ready to lend a compassionate ear to anyone who was in any emotional or physical need. Countless members of her “extended spiritual family” will remember her radiant smile, her kind demeanor and wise counsel, and her unfailingly gracious manner to people of every background and social strata. The last years of her life were spent in failing physical health and increasing dementia, but even in those severe limitations her strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ sustained her, and she continued to be a warm and gently loving presence.

Final arrangements have been made with Corbett Funeral and Cremation of Oklahoma City. A memorial service will be held at her son’s parish, the Episcopal Church of the Atonement in Chicago, Illinois, pending lifting of pandemic-related restrictions, followed by inurnment there.

Memorial gifts are requested in lieu of flowers, to any of the following:

“Music” at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement, 5749 N. Kenmore Ave., Chicago, IL 60660, designated for the Music Program [atonementchicago.org]

or to the “Organ Fund” at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, 112 Capital Ave. N.E., Battle Creek, MI 49017, to the attention of Debra Wawzysko, Director of Parish Operations [stphilipbc.org; email dwawzysko@stphilipbc.org]

or to the Alzheimer’s Association [alz.org/donate].