(From Paul Thomas Funeral Home)Mavis LaDean (Osburn) Wood, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and faithful servant of Christ, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of love, kindness, and devotion. She was a longtime resident of Commerce, OK and moved to Joplin, MO in 1997.
Born on September 29, 1937, in Cardin, Oklahoma, Mavis was the eldest daughter of Mark Samuel Osburn and Norma LaDean (Ross) Osburn. Mavis was a 1955 graduate of Commerce High School where she was Football Queen her senior year.
She grew up alongside her two younger sisters, Cay Wright and Jean Botts, and her brother Rick Osburn. From an early age, Mavis was known as a bright student (shared middle school salutatorian with Beverly Swartz), a caring sibling, and a natural nurturer-a role she would carry gracefully throughout her life.
On February 2, 1957, Mavis married her high school sweetheart, Micky Ray Wood, Sr. Their love endured through over 70 years of companionship and marriage until Micky's passing in April 2023. Together, they built a life rooted in love, faith, and family-raising three children and blessing the world with generations of strong, loving descendants.
A woman of deep and abiding faith, Mavis was a dedicated member of the First Christian Church in Commerce, where she served in numerous teaching roles including WhirlyBirds, Missionettes, and Vacation Bible School. Once her and Micky moved to Joplin, they attended Park Plaza Christian Church. She also led with love as a Girl Scout Leader and Cub Scout Den Mother, always giving her time to invest in the growth and happiness of her children and others. Mavis was also a member of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma where she received the Honorary blanket from the tribe in 2023.
Whether in the classroom, the church, or the ball field, Mavis was ever-present. She could be found at her children's school events and athletic games, cheering with full heart and keeping everyone organized-often while simultaneously keeping the baseball scorebook for her husbands ball team and later her son’s team, while holding multiple conversations in the crowd, sucking on a cinnamon hot square shooter, and still knowing the exact whereabouts of her three children. Her sharp memory never faded, and her wit and warmth were constants in the lives of those who knew her.
Mavis also served her community faithfully, working the election polls with a strong sense of civic duty and integrity. She was widely known and deeply respected throughout Commerce-not just for what she did, but for how she lived.
Above all, Mavis will be remembered as a servant of Jesus Christ, a woman of unwavering faith who lived by example. She loved fiercely, gave generously, and treated everyone-friend or stranger-with grace and compassion. As Gomer Pyle would say, "She was nice. She was REAL nice."
Mavis is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Micky Wood, her daughter-in-law Shelly Wood, her infant brother Jerry Ellis Osburn, her younger brother Rick Osburn and his wife Joyce, and her brother in-laws John Wright and Lee Botts, and a niece Teresa (Osburn) Brewer.
She is survived by her sisters Cay Wright (John) and Jean Botts (Lee); her three children: Debra Butcher and husband Joe of Joplin, MO, Terri Cox and husband Rick of Blanchard, OK, and Micky “Butch” Wood Jr. and his girlfriend Bailey Goodall of Joplin, MO; her five grandchildren: Travis Wood and wife Anna, Dakota Wood, Courtney (Cox) Chandler, Dalton Cox and wife Christina, and Gillian Butcher; her fourteen great-grandchildren: Angela Sharp, Johnathon Reynolds, James Butcher, Maci Chandler, Cruz Chandler, Asher Groh-Cox, Baylor Cox, Vivienne Cox, Cheyanne Wood, Tyler Wood, Haiden Wood, Stormy Wood, Sammy Wood, Wyatt Wood. Her many nieces and nephews include, Stacy Deltoro, Steve Wright and wife Susan of Texas, Mike Wright, Troy Botts, Todd Botts of Miami, OK, Tina (Osburn) Hancock and husband Rick of Seneca, MO, many cousins, tribal members of Eastern Shawnee tribe, and friends.
On February 2, 1957, Mavis married her high school sweetheart, Micky Ray Wood, Sr. Their love endured through over 70 years of companionship and marriage until Micky's passing in April 2023. Together, they built a life rooted in love, faith, and family-raising three children and blessing the world with generations of strong, loving descendants.
A woman of deep and abiding faith, Mavis was a dedicated member of the First Christian Church in Commerce, where she served in numerous teaching roles including WhirlyBirds, Missionettes, and Vacation Bible School. Once her and Micky moved to Joplin, they attended Park Plaza Christian Church. She also led with love as a Girl Scout Leader and Cub Scout Den Mother, always giving her time to invest in the growth and happiness of her children and others. Mavis was also a member of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma where she received the Honorary blanket from the tribe in 2023.
Whether in the classroom, the church, or the ball field, Mavis was ever-present. She could be found at her children's school events and athletic games, cheering with full heart and keeping everyone organized-often while simultaneously keeping the baseball scorebook for her husbands ball team and later her son’s team, while holding multiple conversations in the crowd, sucking on a cinnamon hot square shooter, and still knowing the exact whereabouts of her three children. Her sharp memory never faded, and her wit and warmth were constants in the lives of those who knew her.
Mavis also served her community faithfully, working the election polls with a strong sense of civic duty and integrity. She was widely known and deeply respected throughout Commerce-not just for what she did, but for how she lived.
Above all, Mavis will be remembered as a servant of Jesus Christ, a woman of unwavering faith who lived by example. She loved fiercely, gave generously, and treated everyone-friend or stranger-with grace and compassion. As Gomer Pyle would say, "She was nice. She was REAL nice."
Mavis is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Micky Wood, her daughter-in-law Shelly Wood, her infant brother Jerry Ellis Osburn, her younger brother Rick Osburn and his wife Joyce, and her brother in-laws John Wright and Lee Botts, and a niece Teresa (Osburn) Brewer.
She is survived by her sisters Cay Wright (John) and Jean Botts (Lee); her three children: Debra Butcher and husband Joe of Joplin, MO, Terri Cox and husband Rick of Blanchard, OK, and Micky “Butch” Wood Jr. and his girlfriend Bailey Goodall of Joplin, MO; her five grandchildren: Travis Wood and wife Anna, Dakota Wood, Courtney (Cox) Chandler, Dalton Cox and wife Christina, and Gillian Butcher; her fourteen great-grandchildren: Angela Sharp, Johnathon Reynolds, James Butcher, Maci Chandler, Cruz Chandler, Asher Groh-Cox, Baylor Cox, Vivienne Cox, Cheyanne Wood, Tyler Wood, Haiden Wood, Stormy Wood, Sammy Wood, Wyatt Wood. Her many nieces and nephews include, Stacy Deltoro, Steve Wright and wife Susan of Texas, Mike Wright, Troy Botts, Todd Botts of Miami, OK, Tina (Osburn) Hancock and husband Rick of Seneca, MO, many cousins, tribal members of Eastern Shawnee tribe, and friends.
A private service will be held in her honor. Mavis will be laid to rest beside the love of her life Micky. The family will receive friends Sunday, August 10, 2025 from 2 - 5 p.m. at Mavis' home in Joplin, Missouri.
Her love lives on in every life she touched-and her legacy of faith, family, and kindness will never be forgotten.
Services have been placed in the care of Paul Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami, Oklahoma. Online condolences may be made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.
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