LeRoy Walter Wood passed away on April 15th, 2025, in Rio Rancho NM.
LeRoy was born November 6th, 1940, in Springer NM to Roy and Leota Wood. LeRoy was raised in the Farley, New Mexico area and graduated from Farley High School in 1959. He helped his father farm and ranch in the Colfax area for most of his early years.
After graduating High School, he married his soulmate Bonnie Darlene Gibson on November 21, 1959. LeRoy began work on the Hayward/Hanson ranch between Miami and Cimarron. Two of their children, Robyn and Wade, were born while on the ranch. After a few years, LeRoy found work in Bosque Farms where a third child, Wesley, was born.
LeRoy and Bonnie worked and lived in various places in the Springer/Farley area for a few years until they returned to the Hayward Ranch. This was where their greatest memories of being together and raising a family occurred. LeRoy, with Bonnie always by his side helping with farming, livestock or whatever adventure happened, truly enjoyed the chance to raise his children on such a beautiful ranch.
After Wesley graduated from Springer in 1984, LeRoy moved Bonnie to Las Cruces, NM, hoping the warm weather would help with her arthritis. They then moved to Fountain Hills, AZ. During this time, LeRoy became very successful in the Farm Bureau insurance business, which he originally started working for while in Springer.
When life brought LeRoy and Bonnie back to live in Dalhart Texas in the early 90’s, a business opportunity arose to purchase an insurance agency in Clayton. For many years, Clayton had not been a place the Wood family ever thought they would call home. Their kids had attended Springer and so Clayton had been a rival for most of their lives.
LeRoy will be remembered as the man with the camera on the basketball or football sidelines, whether it was Springer or Clayton, always supporting the young athletes. Many of the youngsters called him “Baldy”. He loved sports and during all the years his children and grandchildren played, he never missed a game or track meet. While his children played sports in Springer, he often drove the activities bus, Big Red, for the away games for both the boys and girls teams. In later years, he enjoyed watching his grandchildren play for the Clayton teams.
LeRoy had many business ventures in Clayton. Insurance, Real Estate, Photography and eventually he ended up working for the Clayton Mainstreet Project. This also included Clayton Rotary, Clayton Town Council, Clayton Chamber of Commerce, the UCCDC and even the Community Roundtables, just to name a few.
All of LeRoy’s ambitions eventually earned him the honor of having the day of July 27th, as officially being LeRoy Wood Day, as proclaimed by the Clayton Mayor.
LeRoy was a kind, caring and very dedicated husband who was always there for Bonnie through her many years of contending with arthritis. He always put his family first and had a wave and smile for everyone he met along the way.
LeRoy was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie. He is survived by his children, daughter Robyn Wood-Millard and her husband Steven of Mora, NM. Wade Wood and his wife Lisa of Rociada, NM and Wesley Wood and his wife Dolores of Los Lunas, NM. He has thirteen grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service will be held in Texline, Texas at the Texline Community Center on Saturday, May 31st, 2025, at 10:00 AM, MST.
In Lieu of flowers, please send cards or written memories of LeRoy, that can be shared, to:
LeRoy Wood, 320 NM HWY 105, Rociada, NM 87742
