Anita Diana “Diane” Wood, 86, of Wayne City, Illinois, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026 at Coulterville Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in Coulterville, IL with her loving daughter by her side. She was born on November 2, 1939 in Wayne City, Illinois to the late William A. “Bill” Newman, Jr. and Lois (Legg) Newman. She married John E. “Woody” Wood on November 7, 1959 and he preceded her in death on August 16, 1996.
Diane and Woody began their lives together living in Ohio during the oil boom, before returning to Illinois to settle down. They enjoyed their C.B. time as “Twinkletoes” and “Wolf Man”. Diane served the Village of Wayne City as Village Clerk for 24 years and 5 months from December of 1980 until her retirement in May of 2005. She then served as a Village Trustee from 2005 to 2021. She was a longtime member of the Wayne City Ruritan Club, earning awards for her position as Treasurer in the Lincolnland District, as well as a member of the Order of the Eastern Star 563. She also served by volunteering at Thomason Cemetery accepting donations each year at Memorial Day. She was a member of the Wayne City Christian Church.
Diane enjoyed traveling and making memories with her sister, Trish, and her family to support the Wayne City 4-H Club and the livestock shows at the summer fair, as well as any other livestock show, tumbling, dance, basketball, softball, volleyball, baseball, rodeo, wrestling or many other sporting or FFA events. One of her favorite activities was helping her nephews by going to the field, where she provided rides, drinks, meals, conversation, observation, and opinions. She also kept a close eye on what the boys were working on at the station. She was extremely fond of those boys, and they could do no wrong in her eyes. She was instrumental in moving several kids to college, back home, and into their forever homes. She enjoyed gardening, canning, making jellies and preserves, and her flowers. She also enjoyed her monthly Tuesday lunch dates with her school friends, Donna Lou, Dixie, Margie, Lois Jean, and Sharon. Some of her other favorite pastimes included having a lot of fun as a member of the Red Hat Society, lunching with Bev, Leona, and Lynette, in previous years. She could also be found watching NASCAR races and St. Louis Cardinals baseball games.
Diane is survived by her daughter Jae Ann Boyd & husband Richard of Sparta, IL; 3 grandchildren: Erica (Larry) Kurtz of Sparta, IL; Alisa (Bryan) Wagner of Pinckneyville, IL; and Richard Boyd, Jr. of Campbell Hill, IL; 9 great-grandchildren: Levi, Loughlyn, Lawson, Kaylee & husband Zane, Alli, Gradie, Georgie, Guthrie, and Carsyn; 2 great-great grandchildren: Oliver and Grayson, and one on the way; 2 sisters: Marcia Keele and Patricia “Trish” Schumm; and several nieces, nephews, and special friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Woody, her parents Bill & Lois Newman; 2 brothers: Jay Dee Newman & wife Donna Kay and Morris Newman & wife Shirley; her brother-in-law David “Jack” Keele; her nephew Eric Newman; her niece Jacque (Keele) Cullison, and her granddaughter-in-law Carissa Boyd.
Funeral services for Anita Diana “Diane” Wood will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Archie L. Sanders Memorial Chapel (located in Thomason Cemetery) in Wayne City with Pastor Jay Loucks officiating. Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 9 from 10:00 am until the time of service at 1:00 pm at the chapel. Interment will follow the funeral service at Thomason Cemetery in Wayne City.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Diane’s honor to the Thomason Cemetery Fund and will be accepted at the service or at Young Funeral Home in Wayne City.
Online condolences, memories, and words of encouragement may be shared at www.youngfuneralhomellc.com.
