Obituary of Gene Woodley

Gene Woodley was born May 29, 1954, in Tacoma, Washington. He was adopted at age two by Jim and Fran Woodley and raised in Tumwater, Washington, on a “gentleman’s farm” on Henderson Boulevard with cows, chickens, a dog and lots of cats. He had (and still has) a thing for cats and burning down barns with fireworks. Jim was a combat veteran of two major armed conflicts, a truck driver, and State Parks caretaker. Fran was an office worker for the State of Washington as well, and a devout Catholic and great cook.

 

Gene attended St. Michael Parish Catholic School, and Olympia High School. He lived in the Olympia and Tumwater area most of his earlier years until he joined the U.S. Army in 1973, being posted in Alaska, Texas and Germany. He attended Pharmacy school after the military, but did not finish the degree. It was during his basic training in the Army, he developed a rare occurrence of Bell’s palsy, which is why you see him in some photos with an eye patch. After a while, he wore it just because.  Also while he was in the Army, he married Theresa McLaughlin (now Rush) and had one son, Jeffrey Alan, in 1977. The couple divorced in 1980.

 

Gene was a wild child and lived how he wanted. In 1984, he had a motorcycle accident, which resulted in physical and mental damages that changed his trajectory in life. He struggled with his demons, but he always enjoyed the outdoors and nature, creating art and television (it was always on). He lived a relatively “quiet” life; he was not, however, quiet. He enjoyed loud rock and roll. One of his favorite bands was the Moody Blues, and one of his musical idols was Frank Zappa.

 

He worked for the State of Washington for nearly 20 years before meeting his wife, Sally Oliver (now Woodley), who worked in the same office. They were married on her farm in 2002, where they lived happily together, raising Sally’s daughter Sarah, who took the last name Woodley because of the love they had and how much he cared for her. There were many adventures and stories in the 15 years he spent there, returning to the farm to raise sheep, chickens, and an occasional duck, raccoon, or mysterious woods kitty. Oh, yes, there were MANY cats on this farm.

 

In January 2018, Gene suffered a major heart attack and had a triple bye-pass.  In May the same year, he suffered a stroke. Due to his and Sally’s health, they were no longer able to keep up the farm life, so they sold the 20 acres in Rochester, where Gene had many favorite memories, and moved to a house in Centralia. After the move, Gene suffered a series of health issues. It was a stroke combined with pneumonia that finally took him on August 13, 2020, to be with Jim and Fran.

 

Besides a lifetime of memories, good humor, and love, Gene is also leaving behind a loving family who will miss him greatly. He is survived by his wife, Sally, and Sally’s daughter, Sarah Harlan, and her children; Sally’s sons, Robert and David Oliver and their children; his son, Jeff Woodley, and his children; his sister, Diane Reines; his nieces, Jessica Stevens, and her children, Angel DeLeon and her children; his nephew Marcus DeLeon, and his children, his son Jeff.

 

He is now at peace, and in that great gig in the sky. 

 

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