Jasper Frankie Woody

It is with profound sadness that we mourn the death of Jasper Frankie Woody, a beloved husband, father, PaPa, brother and friend. He was a unique, one-of-a-kind person, who made this world a little better. For those of us who knew and loved Jasper, we can't imagine our world without him in it. He died at his home on Oneida Lake, surrounded by his loving family.

Jasper was born in Greenville, SC, on January 17, 1945, to Grady and Magglean Woody. He was the sixth of ten children and would tell stories of his early life in Greenville, much of which was spent on his uncle’s farm. Jasper moved to Geneva with his family when he was about five or six and attended Geneva schools. In high school, he was lettered in football, basketball, and track. Jasper was named Male Athlete of the Year during his senior year. He graduated from Geneva High School in 1965 and was proud to be a member of that class. Throughout Jasper’s life, he maintained close relationships with many of his classmates and loved getting together with them whenever he could. 

After graduation, Jasper got a job in the Nabisco Factory. During that time, he received a letter from Uncle Sam that started with “Greetings" and said that he was being drafted. He then enlisted in the Air Force. Jasper was sent to Vietnam and served as an air police at Tuy Hoa Air Base in South Vietnam until he was honorably discharged as a sergeant. Utilizing the GI Bill, he received his associate degree from Auburn Community College and his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland. At Auburn, Jasper met his lifelong friend, Don Ridall, who was the best man at his wedding. At Cortland, he met another lifelong friend, Randy Berstell, with whom he shared a work office for 32 years. Jasper graduated from Cortland in 1976 and decided to remain in the area. There, he coached wrestling at Southern Cayuga Schools and was a substitute teacher. 

It was lucky for Jasper that he stayed in the area because there was a party on Labor Day weekend where he met the love of his life, Ann. Once Ann graduated from Cortland in January 1979, they moved to the Hudson Valley area where they both started work for New York State. On December 17, 1982, Jasper and Ann married at St. Martha's Catholic Church in Uniondale on Long Island. They had a home built in Clinton Corners where they raised their children, Jonathan and Alanna. Jasper worked as a physical education teacher at Green Haven Correctional Facility where he provided athletic activities for the inmate population. 

Jasper enjoyed running, fishing in local lakes and the Hudson River, and attempting to golf. However, his greatest joy was coaching his children's sports teams, including CYO basketball, AAU basketball, and Little League baseball and softball. Jasper also coached the modified girls’ basketball team at Rhinebeck High School after his retirement. He was known to attend every sporting event that Jonathan and Alanna participated in. No matter the field or the court, Jasper knew everyone, and everyone knew him. When Alanna played softball for Marist College, he had a "posse" of students who would drive with him to away softball games. During the summer, Jasper and his family were able to enjoy a seasonal camp on Brant Lake. While the camp was very rustic, the beautiful waters of Brant Lake and the various activities in the area created many happy family memories. Being close to family was always important to Jasper. When the opportunity presented itself to buy a home in Central New York, he bought a home on Lakeport Bay of Oneida Lake to be near Jonathan and his then girlfriend, Jen. At that home, new memories were being created that included huge Fourth of July parties with friends and family, and much fishing. One of Jasper’s joys was a father/son tradition in which he drove his shiny red 2015 Ford Mustang convertible in the annual International Boxing Hall of Fame. He loved driving his "Sally" and his phone’s ringtone was of course "Mustang Sally." CNY winters were too harsh, so, in retirement, Jasper and Ann spent their winters as snowbirds in Myrtle Beach, SC. There, Jasper enjoyed fishing from the piers, antiquing and checking out the consignment stores, and going to the movies with his "wingman," John Marshall. He loved showing guests around his southern home. 

Jasper was a passionate sports fan with a great affinity for the NY Giants, NY Liberty, NY Knicks, NY Yankees, and all SU sports. He also rooted for SUNY Cortland, Marist College, and the winter teams of Coastal Carolina University and South Carolina Women's Basketball. Jasper was a fan of college women's basketball before it became fashionable. He wore coordinating outfits for all his teams. Jasper would talk to anyone and everyone when he was out. He had no use for technology and marveled at the young grands on their iPads. Jasper had a flip phone and never learned how to text or even get his messages, but he loved talking on the phone. He would scroll through his contact list and often just pick out a friend and call them to chat. He was blessed to become "father" to many of Alanna's friends. 

Jasper’s "bonus" daughters, Leighann, Marirose, Nicole, Natasha, and Jo, provided him with many good times. However, the most important legacy that Jasper leaves behind is being PaPa to five wonderful grandchildren, Jackson, Jordan, Julia, Cameron, and Allia. They were the most important reason he fought to stay alive. Jasper was there cheering them on at every game, preschool graduation, and dance recital. He also loved teaching them to fish.

Jasper was proud to be a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He battled prostate cancer for 17 years, most likely due to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. 

Jasper’s family would like to thank the Syracuse VA for the outstanding care that he received over the years, in particular, Dr. Aziz, Deb Vincent, the Infusion nurses and pharmacists, his Palliative Care team, and his hospice team.

Jasper is predeceased by his parents, Grady and Magglean Woody; in-laws, Edward and Ann Olsson; and brother, Joseph Woody. 

Jasper leaves behind his loving wife of 42 years, Ann Woody; children, Jonathan (Jennifer) of Camillus, and Alanna (Marques) McKinney of Liverpool; grandchildren, Jackson, Jordan, and Julia Woody, and Cameron and Allia McKinney; siblings, Virginia McDowell of Piedmont, SC, Louise Truley of Geneva, Grady (Ruth) Woody of Plainfield, NJ, Melvina Bynum of Waterloo, Herbie Woody of Geneva, Anthony (Clara) Woody of Indianapolis, IN, Wanda Woody of Hattiesburg, MS, and Yvonne (Moises) DePaz Martinez of Geneva; beloved in-laws, Terry (Brian) Nolan of Massapequa Park, Edward (Pat) Olsson of Hicksville, and Bernadette (Dennis) Bay of Devon, England; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and many friends, especially Randy and Kathy Berstell of Clinton Corners, John and Linda Marshall of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Don and Loraine Ridall of Dewitt.

To celebrate Jasper’s life, relatives and friends are invited to gather on Monday, September 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus. A Celebration of Life will follow at the funeral home.

Jasper was not a fancy person, so please come however you feel most comfortable and wear your favorite team proudly. That would make Jasper smile. 

Any floral arrangements will be donated to the Syracuse VA to brighten the day of other veterans. Memorial donations may be made to: St Jude Children's Research Hospital in honor of his little fighter, Allia McKinney.