CLIFFORD WOOD Obituary

CLIFFORD DEAN WOOD Clifford Dean Wood, 93 years old, passed away, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Sherman, TX. Clifford was born August 29, 1931, in Sherley, Tx. He was raised in Brashear, TX and graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1949. He enlisted in the US Air Force upon graduation from high school. He served from 1949 through 1954 earning the Korean Service Medal, UN Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Japan Occupation Service Medal and was Honorably Discharged as a Staff Sergent. While stationed at Perrin Air Force Base in Denison, TX, he met Freda Franks, and they were married on May 21st, 1952, in Durant Oklahoma. After his service in the Air Force, Cliff attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, earning his Bachelor's degree. After graduation, he taught HS science in Lawton OK. In 1960 he moved to St Louis MO to attend graduate school at Washinton University. He did his Master's degree in Chemistry and Doctorate work in Nuclear Physics. During that time, he was selected for an internship at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge TN. In 1965 when Grayson County College opened Cliff returned to Texas to teach Organic Chemistry and he retired in 1992 as the Dean of Arts & Sciences. He was the campus sponsor for Phi Theta Kappa Honor Fraternity and later became the state and regional advisor for PTK. He made many lifelong friends at Lawton HS, Phi Theta Kappa and Grayson County College. After retirement, Cliff had more time to indulge in his lifelong passion for boating. His pride and joy was the Sea Star, a 33 ft cabin cruiser. He had a dream to take the boat to the coast and travel up the coast and through the intercoastal waterways to see every lighthouse from Texas to Maine. There were many hours spent on his various boats on Lake Texoma skiing or just cruising. He loved to travel and has enjoyed extensive trips across the US and Europe. Cliff is survived by his children, Sandra Wood, Jon Wood, and wife Stephenie, his grandchildren Julianne Brayton and husband Justin, Emily Morris and husband Kyle, Joshua Wood and Ashlyn Wood, great-grandchildren, Teague, Travis, Finley and Graham. He was predeceased by the mother of his children and wife of 36 years, Freda Wood, and his companion of 31 years, Laurie Williams. The family would like to thank the staff at Pecan Point Assisted Living for their outstanding care and service this past year. We are truly grateful for all you have done. Also, a big thank you to the staff at Home Hospice of Grayson County for their care and compassion these last few weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials being made to the Grayson College Foundation Scholarship Fund.