Audie Woodard

Audie Wayne Woodard, 79, longtime Seminole resident, died Thursday, January 28, 2016 at his home. Audie was born on June 9, 1936, in Cache, Oklahoma to Earl Marvin and Elmer Edna (Price) Woodard. He grew up in Cache, where he attended school and graduated from Cache High School in 1954. After high school, Audie attended and graduated from Cameron Junior College in Lawton, Oklahoma, with an associate’s degree and then went to Midwestern State College in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he received his bachelor's degree in education. He went to Cameron University and Midwestern State College on a basketball scholarship. He later received his master's degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and his doctorate degree from Oklahoma State University, all while continuing to perform his duties as an educator.  His adult life was spent as an educator, basketball coach, principal, counselor and superintendent. Audie never stopped learning. He came to Seminole from Weatherford, Oklahoma Public Schools, where he worked from 1975 to 1980. He served Seminole Public Schools as superintendent from July 1, 1980 to  June 30, 1991. After retirement, he continued his work in education, with Barlow & Associates, as an education consultant, specializing in school financing and grants. He was still active with Barlow at the time of his death. While in Seminole he was involved in the Chamber of Commerce, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Rotary Club, as well as many state, national teacher and superintendent professional  organizations. Audie loved all sports. He love to read, going to the movies, playing music, especially bluegrass music, where he was a gifted musician that learned to play the banjo, fiddle, harmonica and piano, all by ear. He loved genealogy and  loved learning, which he continued to do so until his death. Of all the things he did and enjoyed doing, his true love was his wife, children and grandchildren. He had the honor of handing each of his children their high school diploma, when they graduated from high school. He kept in close contact with his grandchildren and remained deeply involved in their lives. He was survived by his wife of 59 plus years, Gail Woodard of the home in Seminole; two sons, Craig Woodard and his wife, Stephanie, of Nevada, Texas, Blake Woodard and his wife, Mareta, of Enid, Oklahoma, his daughter, Susan Kitson and her husband, Scott, of Ashville, North Carolina, his brother, Larry Woodard and his wife, Carole, of Frisco, Texas, his grandchildren, Courtney Harding and her husband Kyle, Colton Woodard, Chase Woodard and his wife Rachel, Kiley Woodard, Matthew Kitson, Quincy Kitson and James Kitson, two great grandchildren, Camryn Harding and Hawkins Harding. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Edna Reeves. Memorial services will be at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at the Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, Oklahoma, with Elizabeth Davis officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the “Audie Woodard Memorial Scholarship Fund” for an outstanding Seminole High School graduating senior seeking a profession in education. Send donations to Seminole Public Schools @ 617 N. Timmons Street, Seminole, Oklahoma 74868. Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma is in charge of memorial services. Funeral Information: February 3, 2016, 1:00 PM Swearingen Funeral Home located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips Ave., Seminole, OK 74868