Biography: Woodie Fay Mayo (USAF Veteran) died Friday March 28, 2025, at home in Little Rock, Arkansas. Woodie was born in Damascus, Arkansas on April 18, 1930, the daughter of Kinley and Wilma Wood.

After graduating from high school, she took a bus to Washington DC to live with her aunt. Once there she decided to enlist in the Air Force and was assigned to work with General Doolittle at the Pentagon. She was eventually transferred to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. It was at this base that she met her future husband, Hal, who became the love of her life. She tells the story of how she saw him on the parade field one day and before even meeting him she told her friend that was the man she would marry someday. Hal and Woodie married on July 3, 1951 and began their life together, eventually having 6 children. They traveled to many locations during their marriage but when Hal retired from the Air Force, they returned to Arkansas so that Woodie could be closer to her mother. They lived in Jacksonville, Arkansas for many years and once they were empty nesters they found their dream home on Greer’s Ferry Lake in Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas and moved again. They had many adventures there; some of

Woodie’s favorite things to do were water skiing (until the age of 80, with Hal driving the boat), gardening, cooking, and taking 5 mile walks every day. In June 2021 they moved to Parkway Village Retirement Community in Little Rock to be closer to their daughter, Jo Spencer, and closer to medical care. Woodie and Hal were married for 71 years, with Hal passing away in October 2022. 

Woodie is survived by three daughters, Linda (Ken) Bowen of Puyallup, WA, Karen Mayo of Edwards, CO, Jo Spencer (Sam Ledbetter) of Little Rock, AR, one son, James (Samantha) Mayo of Springfield, MO. Two Sisters, Reba Cunningham and Ardith Helm. Eleven Grandchildren, Mike Bowen, Jenny Bowen, Philip Mayo, Matthew Mayo, Zachary Mayo, Sydni Mayo, Madison Spencer, Kate Spencer, Taylor Mayo, Wesley Mayo, and Benjamin Mayo. Eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Woodie is preceded in death by her husband Hal, her sons Bruce Mayo and Robert Mayo and her brother Earl Wood. 
The family would like to say thank you to those who helped care for Woodie over the past several years.  Her caregivers: Keisha Irby, Nikki White, and Jackie Wallace. The VA Home-Based Primary Care team: Becca Efferein ARNP, Tony Fincher, RN, Megan Temple Clinical Dietician, Sarah Henderson, Clinical Psychologist, Debra Turner, LCSW. Her hospice team at Hospice Home Care. The staff at Parkway Village retirement community. 

Woodie had requested no funeral services. Her wishes were for cremation and to be placed next to Hal at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in NLR.  

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her name to Hospice Home Care, C/O Tribute of Life Foundation, 12120 Colonel Glenn Road, Suite 10,000, Little Rock, AR 72210. Arrangements under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com.