William Eugene Wood “Gene,” age 96 (4 hours away from turning 97!), a former resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on March 17, 2026, at Care Haven Homes in Overland Park, Kansas. In Chillicothe, he was a 50-year Mason and served on the Board of Directors for the Summer Playground Association. After moving to the farm in Laredo, Missouri, Gene served on the Board of Directors for the Senior Housing Center and the Volunteer firefighters.

Gene was born March 18, 1929, to Dudley and Frattie (Feaster) Wood in Wheatland, Missouri. He was united in marriage to Jimmie “Jean” Anson on December 6, 1947, in Higginsville, Missouri. She preceded him in death on July 30, 2018.

Gene was the definition of a self-made man. He was born in south Missouri in what he called “a square place in the road.” At the beginning of WWII, his family moved to Higginsville, Missouri. Following 8th grade, he chose to leave schooling behind and help support the family.

For the next 4–5 years, he worked for local farmers and at the service station that was located at Fairground and Main Street. When he was 15, he decided to go to Texas and join the wheat harvest. He returned home and was asked to manage the service station. With the help of his father, he purchased a truck and hauled hay and rock in his “spare” time. At the end of long workdays, he would go to the local drug store, where he met his lifelong love and partner, Jimmy Jean. Following her high school graduation, they were married. Gene left the service station and went to work at John Deere, where once again an opportunity found him.

Recognized by all as a hard worker and opportunity seeker, Gene was approached by a traveling representative of Rupp Oil, Dale Courtney. Although only 20 years old, Gene was offered the job of managing a 24-hour truck stop in Chillicothe, Missouri. Taking the job, Gene and Dale formed a partnership that lasted close to 40 years.

After a year, Gene went on the road for Rupp Oil and learned the wholesale oil and gas business. He decided to venture out on his own and asked Dale to join him in running a small gas station, a wholesale oil and gas business with Skelly Oil, and purchasing farmland in Laredo, Missouri, for a cattle and crop operation. All of these life experiences before the age of 30 molded Gene into the man his family strives to live up to.

Gene was fond of saying, “I had a hard life but a good life. I have no regrets.” He leaves behind a legacy of hard work and sacrifice, family support, loyalty, and love. He will be deeply, deeply missed.

Gene is survived by his two sons, Jim Wood and wife Linda (Clapp) of Milton, Florida, and Mike Wood and wife Julie (Crawford) of Leawood, Kansas; three grandchildren, Courtney (Wood) and Larry Pfaff of Leawood, Kansas, Clayton and Nikki (Schweppe) Wood of Leawood, Kansas, and Conner and Caitlin (O’Rourke) Wood of Leawood, Kansas; eleven great grandchildren, Landon Todd Pfaff, Blake Denver Pfaff, Addie Lane Pfaff, Greyson James Wood, Brooks Michael Wood, Wells Eugene Wood, Sutton Henry Wood, Tatum Jacqueline Wood, Rowan William Wood, Callum Brian Wood, and Maeve Rosemary Wood.

Graveside services for family and close friends will be held at Edgewood Cemetery, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. There is no scheduled visitation. Following the graveside service, there will be a gathering at Blackwater for food, drinks, and fellowship. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chillicothe Booster Club and/or Children’s Mercy Hospital and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.