Maurice Woodruff
Sept. 25, 1939-Dec. 6, 2024
Maurice was born in Hollywood, Calif., to June Whitaker and Maurice Woodruff Sr. His dad was in the Coast Guard and his mom would later work for the LA County Sheriff’s Department. Maurice loved sharing memories of his grandpa “Slim” Whitaker, who seemed to always play the bad guy in early western movies. Maurice was very proud of the time he served in the U.S. Army. He served in Korea and his reserve time was spent in California. Maurice did many things in his life after the Army. He drove roll-off trucks, was a big rig truck mechanic, built his own motorcycle, installed water tanks, was a butcher and meat cutter, did construction on military bases, went to school to become a water treatment operator, and retired to Pagosa Springs in 1996. Retired is a subjective description, though. He got his first handyman job in Pagosa, just because he showed up. He didn’t work on “Pagosa time,” which endeared him to his many clients. He loved to hunt and fish with friends and family. It was the comradery and time spent together that he appreciated the most. He enjoyed helping out with the women’s shooting classes and the hunter education classes. He retired for the second time when he turned 80, but still managed to run to Ace or Ponderosa to help his buddies out. He traveled to Alaska for the first time when he was 77 and went several times over the next few years. He enjoyed seeing the aurora and fishing for halibut.
Maurice is survived by his wife of 43 years, Natalie; children Lisa (Peter) Tryk, Ken (Michelle) Woodruff and Kimberly Woodruff; grandchildren Cassie Rios, Anthony (Rachel) Caezza, Trinity Tryk, Brandon Woodruff, Courtney (Tristan) Hernandez, Andrew Thayer, Matthew Thayer and Brianna Parris; and great-grandchildren Elizabeth and Lyla.
Maurice was loved by many and he will be sorely missed. A celebration of life will be held April 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. at his favorite restaurant, Ramon’s.
