Gladys Emogene Woodard

Emogene was born Gladys Emogene Watson to Carl J. Watson and Gladys Foley Watson on August 29, 1922 at home in Meridian, Sutter County, California. She was always proud to be a native of Sutter County. She passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at the age of 93, in Marysville. Emogene attended school in Meridian and graduated from Sutter High School. She loved music and played piano for church, events, and dances during her youth and continued playing for the pleasure of her family and friends until later in life. After graduating from Sutter High, she attended Yuba Junior College and studied business. Emogene married Daniel Charles Woodard, Jr. on January 28, 1941. They lived in Vallejo where Dan worked on Mare Island. This is where their first daughter, Sheryl was born. Soon after they moved to Sutter County. Dan continued his education and eventually became teacher/principal at Tierra Buena School. They lived in Marysville during these years which is where their son, Daniel Keith was born. In 1953, Dan and "Gene" moved to Gilroy, California, where Dan was principal of Brownell Junior High. During the next few years Emogene was a volunteer for local organizations and worked as a secretary at an elementary school. Their second daughter, Jana, was born during this time. After leaving Gilroy in 1962, Dan and "Gene" lived in Marin County, Manteca and for many years in Nevada City as Dan held various administrative positions in education. Emogene enjoyed many years of golf, Inner Wheel (of Rotary), her daughter Jana's growing up years, hosting foreign exchange students and many other activities in Nevada City. In 2003, Dan and "Gene" decided to return to the Valley and they purchased a home in Yuba City. Dan passed away in 2004. Emogene remained in their home, enjoying pinochle at the Senior Center, lunches with friends from Sutter High School, and remaining in contact through the phone and mail with friends made over the years from everywhere she and Dan had lived. She was proud to walk two miles a day for exercise into her 90's. In 2014 she moved to Sutter Estates and became extremely grateful for the social life, good food and fun activities she experienced there. Emogene is survived by her brother Carl E. Watson and his wife June of Colusa and their daughter Shelley Crawford and her family of New Mexico; her daughter Sheryl Lange (Ken) of Chico and their children Brian, his wife Kimberly, their children Bailey and Brady of Chico; and Alan, his wife Karen, and their son Griffin of West Sacramento; Emogene's son Daniel Keith (Susan) of Valley Springs, CA and their children, son Kevin (Stacey) and their three children Tyler Halbach, Aaron and Cameron, of San Jose; daughter Ginny Rogers (Lee) and their children Aiden Rogers and Skyler Dominguez of Nevada; and daughter Crissy McGuire (Keiichi) and their daughters Kiku and Emi of San Jose; and Emogene's daughter, Jana and Jana's fiance Rick Schies of Yuba City. She is also survived by numerous cousins and their families in the Sutter area. Per her request, there will be no services for Emogene. She will be buried at the Sutter Cemetery next to Dan and where her grandmother, her parents, and numerous aunts, uncles and friends are also buried. Arrangements are through Ullrey Memorial Chapel. She would prefer that you donate to your own favorite organization or charity in lieu of flowers.