La Roi Woods
1941 – 2025
La Roi Woods, 83, passed away on April 22, 2025, at his home in Edmond, Oklahoma. In death, as in life, his beloved wife was by his side.
Huie La Roi Woods was born May 1, 1941, in Goose Creek, Texas, to Huie and Melba Woods. Born with complications, doctors predicted he wouldn’t live. But his father prayed through the night for his son and by morning, La Roi had made a miraculous recovery.
La Roi lived his first two years in Pelly, along the banks of the bayou in what is now Baytown, Texas. When his father accepted pastorates in West Texas, La Roi moved with his family and spent the remainder of his childhood in Pampa and Borger.
At the age of 16, La Roi accepted the call to preach. He was credentialed with the Assemblies of God and left home to attend high school at Southwestern Bible Institute in Waxahachie, Texas. Upon graduation in 1959, La Roi enrolled in college courses at SBI, now Nelson University. He traveled with school and family ministry teams preaching, singing and playing his trombone primarily in Texas and then Oklahoma.
In 1968, La Roi met a pretty schoolteacher named Sarah Jean Chambers at a Valentine’s Banquet at First Assembly in Edmond, Oklahoma. They were married on May 31, six weeks after their first date. As a native Texan, La Roi often said, “When I came to Oklahoma, I had a hard time understanding the natives, so I married one.” The newlyweds continued evangelizing until La Roi accepted the associate pastorate position at First Assembly in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
La Roi pastored two churches during his ministry career. From 1971 to 1988, he pastored the Assembly of God church in Alva, Oklahoma. From 1989 to 2006, he pastored the First Assembly in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. He not only pastored the congregations, but also the communities.
La Roi modeled generosity. He not only taught his congregations to serve their communities, but also led them to support ministries across the U.S. and around the world. He especially loved missionaries and their families and found ways to minister to them.
Pastoring was not something La Roi did; it was who he was. He was compassionate, available to listen, quick to pray, and ready to help. He was a man of wisdom, often quoting the book of Proverbs. La Roi was honest. He spoke the truth in love.
God was always first in his life, but his family was a very close second. La Roi was a caring and attentive husband to his wife. They sincerely enjoyed each other and were always together. They were partners in ministry. Although La Roi often teased his wife and called her “spoiled,” he was to blame.
They were the proud parents of three boys – Mike, Matt, and Tim. La Roi taught his sons about a personal God who would guide their every step. Additionally, he taught his family that a healthy sense of humor was “good medicine.” The Woods house was always filled with laughter!
In 2006, La Roi and Sarah Jean moved to Edmond and attended the church where they first met. They always enjoyed traveling and continued to do so in retirement. Many of their destinations included visits to see their grandchildren.
La Roi was an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and in 2017 was recognized with a 50-year pin. Throughout the years he served in a variety of capacities within the Oklahoma Assemblies of God. Yet, above all, he was a friend and mentor to other ministers. At the time of his death, he had held papers with the fellowship for 68 years.
La Roi was especially grateful that in the latter years of his life that all three of his boys lived close by and they were able to spend time together with all of their families.
La Roi Woods is survived by his wife of almost 57 years – Sarah Jean; his sons – Mike and Dayna of Yukon, Matt and Mindy of Yukon, and Tim and Kay Lynn of Mustang; and 12 grandchildren – Seth and Grayce Taylor, Kade and Keleigh Woods, Asher and Alexis Woods, Crew, Hudson, Seton, Harper, Spencer, Cora, Sybil, Eliza and Hugo; and one great-granddaughter Alyvia Woods. He is also survived by his aunt – Oda B. Anderson of Baytown, Texas, sister – Jeanine Sullins of Houston, Texas, nephew – Rob Sullins, of Dallas, Texas, along with many cousins, extended family members and a host of friends.
Edmond. Arrangements are with Matthews Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Awaking Hope – awakinghope.com. P.O. Box 700209, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74170. (918) 494-7772.
Visitation will be held May 2, 2025, from 4pm to 8pm, and May 3rd, 2025, from 1pm to 8pm at Matthews Funeral Home. Edmond, Oklahoma.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00pm, May, 6th, 2025, at Spring Creek Assembly of God, Edmond, Oklahoma.
A man of great dignity and character who impacted Pam and me in ways few others have. Definitely missed, and forever in our hearts.
I can’t express how saddened we are to hear about Brother Woods passing. I’ve got so many memories with this family in them, especially mine and Brother Woods talks. One thing I can tell you he was a very honest man and you didn’t ask him something that you really didn’t want to the answer to because he would tell you.🤣 Also he always brought me peace in the many family tragedies we had through out the years. Gone but never forgotten. We will miss you always. To the family know how much the people in Broken Bow loved him and you and will be praying for peace and comfort through this difficult time.
Love The Melson’s
Loved him! Always brought laughter and love, into every room he entered! He called leggings—“long-johns” and always made us laugh!❤️
I have many fond memories of long conversations and prayers with LaRoi in my office. He was a rock…someone you could always count on to pour out love of Jesus, just when you needed it most. LaRoi was loved by so many and will be deeply missed.
Michelle and I are praying for you all and we are so very thankful for Brother and Sister Woods guidance and love through the years. Oh what a beautiful mark they have left on our little community in southeast Oklahoma and I’m sure the same can be said of the other communities. We love you all and we thank you for sharing Brother Woods with us.
LaRoi and Jean have a very special place in our hearts. They have ministered to and with us; prayed for us. The thing I always admired most about LaRoi was it did not matter to him what religious denomination you were; or even if you weren’t a Christian, he prayed for you and everyone else! His mission was to pray for you and teach you about God and his son Jesus Christ. He would visit the many businesses in Broken Bow and go around and ask the employees how they were; and how could he pray for them today! He was a special man of God and certainly had a wonderful purpose on Earth; and I feel so blessed to have known LaRoi Woods. Prayers for Jean and their sons and family.
Cindy & Ranny Sorrels
He was a truly great and Godly man. We wish you our deepest condolences and will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers.
I remember brother and sister Woods so kindly. As a young teen it was refreshing to see them and they always would acknowledge they knew me, even though I wasn’t at the church every Sunday. They gifted me a bible in 1999 when I graduated high school and it’s the bible I use today, 26 years later. His and Sister Woods kindness towards me will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
LaRoi knew I had 5 sons and that one of them was way out in left field. LaRoi prayed for him and would routinely ask about him and tell me an encouraging story. In fact every time I talked with LaRoi he had an uplifting story about the Lord or his daddy.
He was a great man of God and servant to all. We are praying that our Lord of all comfort be with Sarah Jean, boys and family. 💕
La Roi was the first evangelist to preach for us in our early days of pastoring, and one of our closest friends and helpers in leading Oklahoma youth ministry in the 70’s. He & Jean helped lead camps, retreats, youth missions trips, and made a deep impact on a generation of AG youth. His passing leaves a void in our hearts, and we will have much to talk about “when we all get to heaven.”💔