Wayne Woodworth, 82

Wayne Harlow Woodworth passed away in his home at Brookdale Senior Living on Jan. 6, 2023. He was born April 19, 1941, in Yakima, Wash., to Nathan and Emma Woodworth. He follows his wife, Carolyn Woodworth, who passed away in June, just shy of their 63rd anniversary.

Wayne was called to the ministry and blessed to serve the Church of God in Deer Park, Wash., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Pendleton, Ore., Stratton, Colo., Redding, Calif., and Colville, Wash. He met Carolyn during seminary school when visiting her church in a men’s quartet. Music would continue to be integral to his family and ministry. Wayne worked hard to support the family and involved himself in the community, whether driving school buses, in the dying department of the Pendleton Woolen Mills, or the Stratton Co-op.

Wayne had a career change once the kids were grown. He and Carolyn worked together as directors of a Senior Living Facility and helped usher in a new form of senior housing, commonly referred to as Assisted Living. Even after retiring, he continued to serve as interim pastor at several communities throughout Oregon and Washington.

Before his most severe health challenges, Wayne and Carolyn settled in the community of Newport, Wash., to be closer to family. With a lot of land and an aging home, he was able to tinker to his heart’s content with projects that ranged from gardening to building storage units and playgrounds for his grandchildren. He could turn a saw into a musical instrument and a table saw blade into a canvas. He reveled in trading up and finding a good deal. He had a passion for history and learning and was frequently caught reading from his encyclopedia set. Through a series of medical challenges, he lost much of his sight, and his ability to walk and lived in constant pain. Despite this, he was the jokester of the family and the firm cornerstone of our foundation. He surprised us all by "graduating" out of hospice in 2023 but was reunited with their care in his last weeks.

Wayne is survived by his son, Mark (Lynette) Woodworth of Hayden, Idaho, and daughter Teresa (Eric) Stone of Clinton, Mass., grandchildren Andrew (Ashley) Woodworth, Aubrey (Jared) Crist, Alysse Woodworth, Emily Stone, Sarah Stone and Nathan Stone. Also beloved nieces, nephews and extended family from the Woodworth and Power families. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carolyn, daughter Patricia Woodworth and infant sons Kenny and Michael Woodworth, his parents, brothers Robert and Jerry Woodworth and sisters Mildred Kresser, Margaret Frey and Janice Valesco.

With children and grandchildren in the Northwest, Northeast and Southwest corners, we will save a memorial to celebrate Wayne and Carolyn on Aug. 9 at English Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Please view and sign Wayne's online guestbook at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.

Wayne, you can rest with your Savior, Jesus. “I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” — John 14:27