Gary Lee Woods, age 72 of Hesperia, passed away Thursday, August 11, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family following a battle with cancer. Gary was born on October 9, 1943 in Stambaugh, Michigan to George and Elsie (LaPlante) Woods and attended Stambaugh High School where he lettered in basketball and tennis and graduated in 1961. Gary then attended and graduated from Northern Michigan University in March 1966 with a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education/Social Studies. He accepted a teaching position at Hesperia Public Schools which he loved and where he spent his entire teaching career until his retirement in 1995. Gary cared deeply about his students and truly enjoyed seeing them succeed academically, personally and athletically. For many years, he enjoyed Hesperia football from the best seat in the house as part of the chain gang with his pals, Frank Murray and Don Long. Gary loved the outdoors hunting, fishing, camping, cutting wood and making maple syrup with his brother-in-law, Joe Kennedy. He especially enjoyed besting his walleye buddy, Charlie Rose. Gary joined Marcia Menold in marriage in 1971 and they were blessed with two wonderful children, Sara (Scott) Sherman of Fremont; Brian Woods of Hesperia; his grandsons, Nathan, Carter, and Flynn Sherman; his sister, Bonita (Al) White of Missouri; two sisters-in-laws, Linda (Jim) Reynolds of North Muskegon; Judy (Roger) Herin of Hart; several nieces and nephews. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, Russ and Fran Menold and by his brother-in-law, Joe Kennedy. VISITATION : Thursday, August 18, 2016 from 4-7pm and Friday, August 19, 2016 from 1-2pm at Crandell Funeral Home Fremont Chapel (7193 W 48th Street Fremont MI 49412). MEMORIAL SERVICES : Friday, August 19, 2016 at 2pm at the Crandell Funeral Home Fremont Chapel. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : to the Gary L. Woods Scholarship Fund at the Fremont Area Community Foundation (checks payable to the FACF) or charity of the donors choice.

Visitation

Thursday, August 18, 2016 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Fremont Chapel 7193 W 48th Street Fremont, Michigan 49412

Visitation

Friday, August 19, 2016 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Fremont Chapel 7193 W 48th Street Fremont, Michigan 49412

Memorial Service

Friday, August 19, 2016 2:00 PM

Fremont Chapel 7193 W 48th Street Fremont, Michigan 49412