Georgia Lee (Mathews) Wood

Georgia Lee (Mathews) Wood, 93, of Amarillo, TX, passed away on June 5, 2026 at the Abundantly Blessed Care Home in Amarillo.

The family will receive friends for a visitation from 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M., Monday, June 8, 2026, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79109. Private burial will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Fort Scott, KS. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Amarillo, Texas.

A celebration of life will be held in Hammond, KS at a future date.

Georgia was born on September 5, 1932 to Frank Loren and Iva May (Stewart) Mathews in Bronson, KS. She grew up there and graduated from Bronson High School where she was a cheerleader. During her junior year in high school, Georgia was elected by a women's business group in Bronson to attend Girl's State at Kansas University. She also worked at the local drugstore soda fountain.

In 1951 Georgia was united in marriage to Walter H. Wood (Hammond, KS) at the Baptist Church in Bronson. They met while he was a new elementary school teacher there. Shortly after their wedding, Georgia moved to Monterey, CA to be near Fort Ord, where Walter was in basic training for the armed forces in Korea. Afterward, she went to Wichita, KS to live with Walter's uncle and aunt, Walter T. and Mildred (Query) Wood, and their son, Donald, during Walter's deployment to Germany.

To this union three daughters were born- Sheryl Deanne, Glenda Ranae, and Stephanie Ann.

Georgia had many jobs over the years as a secretary for several insurance companies, and Iowa State University. She also loved working with children in the public schools in Ames, IA. After retirement and moving to Fort Scott, KS, she did volunteer work for the Genealogical Society there, serving as a librarian. Georgia also set up a computer database for Bourbon Co. cemeteries.

In 2005 she and Walter moved to Amarillo, TX, to be near their daughter, Stephanie (Jimmy) Rifenberg. Georgia then worked at Stephanie's business- Certified Collectors of Amarillo until 2013.

Georgia's surviving family members are; Daughters, Sheryl Albertson (Dave), Leland, IA, and Stephanie Rifenberg (Jimmy) of Amarillo, Sister, Karen Clark (John) of Neosho, MO, Sister-in-law, Loreta Jent (Larry) of Ft. Scott, KS, Grandchildren Laurann Anderson (James) of Leland, IA, Betsie Feldkamp (Dan), of Apple Valley, MN, Tisha Thompson (Scott of Clear Lake, IA, Ethan Albertson (Michelle) of Forest City, IA, Aaron DeHerrera (Whitney) of Lawrence, KS, Leeana Ryan (Tremain) of Lawrence, KS, Jordan Rifenberg, and Justin Rifenberg of Amarillo, 18 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Georgia was preceded in death by her parents, husband Walter, daughter Glenda, sister and brother-in-law Irene and Elvis Fisher, brother Scott Mathews, brother and sister-in-law Frankie and Bessie Mathews, and great-granddaughters Marta Anderson and Louisa Feldkamp.