Desmond Wood

When Desmond was five years old, he traveled with his parents from Texas west to Theba, Arizona (Now Paloma). He attended school in Gila Bend and went on to attend the University of Arizona. He also attended Baptist Seminary for several months. But he quit because the theology did not agree with what he read in his bible and this confused him a great deal. I believe this attempt to become a Preacher and attend seminary was greatly influenced by his sweetheart at the time, Maxine McClure. He dated this preacher's kid and was madly in love with her but her dad strongly discouraged the relationship because Dad was raised in the Bar and her dad got them transferred out of Gila Bend to California.


Later he married Margie Louise Baker and in the first years of their marriage he served in the Armed Cavalry Service. After a term in the Service, he returned to his family and re-opened the old family business that his mother, Lena had abandoned in 1942" Cactus Lodge", {The bought it from Lena in 1945} on old Highway 80, in the middle of the desert. It was very dirty and it took weeks to get it cleaned out. He later purchased several sections of desert land which he cultivated as farm land on which he and Margie raised their three children.
When the new Highway 80 was built, and bypassed the Cactus Lodge, They built a new place on the new Highway. That was in 1957 and the new place was well known as the Cos Mo Cafe midway between Gila Bend and Buckeye, AZ.

Mother preceded him in death on Sept. 20, 1977.

Desmond accepted Christ as his savior the night before Margie passed away. He was water Baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost on May 17th. 1981 in Houston, Texas by Pastor John Counts at Living Word Outreach.

On Nov. 21, 1981 He married Maxine McClure ( His childhood sweetheart). He was well known nation wide for his work with the National Association of Conservation Districts and locally as well as State wide for his contributions to the NRCD. One of his delights was to work with young people and this brought him much satisfaction.

It was said that perhaps he had missed his calling - To Be A Teacher! or Preacher! He was also a member of the Elks Club in Gila Bend. Local, state and nationally prominent leader in natural resource conservation and development programs for thirty years. Chairman, Gila Bend NRCD, 28 years. President, Arizona Association of Conservation Districts - 3 years. Executive Director - A.A.C.D. - 22 years. Director, National Association of Conservation Districts - 9yrs. Awarded Arizona Conservationist of the Year in 1971.

He had five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren when he died. His funeral was held in Buckeye Arizona.
Services: March 14, 1986, 5:00 P.M., First Southern Baptist Church
Officiating: Reverend Charles Clayborn
Pallbearers: Silky Wood II, Brandon Wood, R.K. Shelton, Sammy Hocker, Shannon Killman, Rantz Killman.
Arrangements by Ganley's in Buckeye, AZ.
Note:

Considering Desmond's grand father "The Kid " and the beginning of his career and Jack's history of stealing, womanizing, Maybe even murder, Des broke the blood line of deception and wrong doing. He was a faithful husband, a wonderful and wise father and a shroud, but honest business man.