Juanita "Nita" (Vanpelt) Wood

Cora Juanita “Nita” Vanpelt Wood, age 87, of Coleman, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, after a short illness.  The family will host a visitation on Friday, September 8, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 9, in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jeff Dean, pastor of North Coleman Baptist Church, officiating.

Nita was born March 3, 1936, in Gouldbusk, Texas, to George Graham Vanpelt and Redie Irene Smith. Nita graduated from Melvin High School in 1954 and moved to Coleman, working as a switchboard operator and at Bowen Drug Store. She married Billy Joe Wood on April 21, 1958, in Coleman and he preceded her in death on November 12, 1996.

Nita had a sense of adventure, and after Billy passed away, she loved to travel the United States with her group of friends to different locations including Arizona, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Colorado. She loved playing games with friends, and even more so with her family.

She was an active member of North Coleman Baptist Church for 69 years, wearing many hats ranging from custodian to church clerk, and served on the Pastoral Search Committee.

Nita worked for Coleman ISD for 20 years in the cafeterias and snack bars of every school. She loved preparing the meals and making the kids smile. For over ten years during the summers, she was a cook at the Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment at Lake Brownwood, often leaving at 6am and getting home after 8pm. Following her retirement from Coleman ISD, Nita worked as a greeter, driver, and assistant at Stevens Funeral Home, where she was cherished for her work ethic, compassion, and friendly smile.

“Nanna” loved her family and enjoyed having as many around her as possible. One of her favorite things was DQ ice cream which she required regularly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her grandson, Joseph Wood.

She is survived by and lovingly remembered by her two daughters, Jonita (Dewayne) Felty, Tamie (Nicky) McCulloch and two sons, Kyle Wood, Kevin Wood (DeAnn Shadid); sister, Pauline Scott; sisters-in-law, Jarvis Wood, Tomie Delle Drennan; a number of grandchildren, Sonya Costanza (Johnny), Meagan Williams (Chris), Charisse Bennett (Glenn), Joseph Felty, Shayla Clifton (Cason), Clayton Wood, Ashley McGee (Sean), Jake Wood (Jackie), Kaitlin Downing (Osten) and Alex Wood;  and many great grandchildren; numerous, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Please leave kind thoughts and condolences for the family on her obituary page at www.stevensfuneralhome.com.  Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Wood family.

The family suggests that memorials be made to North Coleman Baptist Church, P. O. Box 977, Coleman, Texas 76834.