Charlene M. Woods (94) of Newton

Charlene M. Woods age 94 of Newton passed away Monday, April 11, 2016 at Richland Memorial Hospital Long Term Care in Olney, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 15 at the Crain Funeral Home in Newton with Charlene’s nephew Rev. Jack Woods officiating. Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in the West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Newton, Illinois. Memorial gifts in memory of Charlene may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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Charlene was born September 2, 1921 at her Grandfather Thacker’s home in Smallwood Township, in Jasper County Illinois, the eldest child of James Robert and Zennie Ruth (Thacker) Hartleroad. She married Dean Carter Woods on October 7, 1939 in St Charles, Missouri. He preceded her in death on February 26, 1978. Charlene, her husband, and her parents operated a grocery store in the village of Shamrock. Later she assisted her husband in operating a Marathon Oil Distributor business and family farm. Charlene was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was an excellent seamstress and quilter. She enjoyed preparing delicious meals for her family and tending to her yard, garden and flowers. She looked forward to her daily walks and watching baseball games with her friend and neighbor, Mary Ann Gile. Charlene was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. She was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women.

Charlene will be loved and remembered by her children Sharon K. (Larry) Steward of DuQuoin, IL, Shirley Ann (Bill) Saegesser of Jeffersonville, IN, Nancy Jo (Dennis) Allen of Newton and Cindy L. Rife of Newton, Rex L. (Amy) Woods of Newton and Paul D. (Laura) Woods of Newton; twelve grandchildren Lisa (Mark) Fisher, Lance (Staci) Steward, Leann (Steve) Judd, Casey (Jill) Saegesser, Beth Allen, Emily (Christopher) Volkman, Lindsey (Wayne) Buck, Seth (Brooke) Woods, Katie (Jesse) Kinder, Kevin (Stephanie) Woods, Kristen (Scott) Ray; great-grandchildren Kyle Fisher, Jacob Fisher, Katheryn Steward, Emma Steward, Alyssa Skidmore, Caleb Skidmore, Alex Judd, Isaac Saegesser, Reese Volkman, Regan Volkman, Harper Buck, Claire Woods, Carter Woods, and Paul Ray.

Her parents, husband Dean, grandson Todd Steward, brother Shelby Hartleroad, and sister Marjorie Hartin preceded her in death.