Margaret Woods

Madison - Margaret Anne Woods, 92, died of Alzheimer's-related illness on October 17, 2015 at St. Mary's Care Center in Madison. She came to Madison in 2011 so her son John and his wife Nancy could care for her. Anne was born March 12, 1923 in Long Beach, California to Margaret (Peggy) and Henry Martin McAnally. She grew up in Torrance, California and graduated from Torrance High School in 1941. She married John L. Woods of Long Beach on April 5, 1942 in Las Vegas and subsequently lived in Long Beach where her three children were born, John Alan, 1943, George Martin, 1944, and Caralee Gail, 1949. Her son George died in 2008.
She was a stay-at-home mom until her kids were well into school and then worked in various Long Beach schools as an administrative assistant. She loved to listen to Frank Sinatra records at home. She was a great reader and fantastic at knitting and crocheting and leaves her family with many of her projects. She liked word games and was skilled at working NY Times crossword puzzles.
As her husband's career blossomed in engineering and construction, they lived around the U.S. in Hawaii, Michigan, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, and finally back to California. At that time she became an emergency room volunteer at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. She and her husband had the opportunity to travel, including various cruises, trips to Europe, Australia, and even visited their son John in Ethiopia in 1968 when he was in the Peace Corps.
In 1980 she and her husband retired and moved to Poway, California near San Diego. They played golf, visited their children, and traveled around the U.S. in their motor home, including a couple of trips to Madison. Some may say her life was unremarkable, but she was greatly loved by her friends and family, and her passing leaves a hole in our hearts. Her descendants include her three children, five grandchildren, Christopher, Wendy, and Lindsay (John's children) and Stacey and Joshua (George's children); and seven great grandchildren.
Her parents died many years ago. Her husband died in 2003. Anne lived a long life, had a lot of adventures, and leaves behind a legacy of love and affection. Anne's family would like to express appreciation for the care she received at St. Mary's.
She will be interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Long Beach, California.
Cress
Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
608-238-3434