Jess Leonard Wood

Jess Leonard Wood, 84, won his final race on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

A celebration of his life will be held at 2 pm at Mission Ranch Venue, 232 E. Cottonwood, Amarillo, Texas, 79108 on Saturday, August 30, 2025. Services are under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Family request in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Tom Dortch Scholarship Fund in Jess Wood’s name, at Anchor D. Bank, P.O. Box 8, Spearman, Texas, 79081 to provide scholarships for Hansford County High School senior students who wish to attend technical trade school pursuing automotive or diesel mechanics.

Jess was born October 15, 1940, in Wichita Falls, Texas, and lived most of his growing up years in Borger, Texas. Jess and his wife, Iris, made their home in Gruver, Texas where Jess started his successful career under the mentorship of Robert (Bob) Crawford at Hansford County Parts and Supply in the year of 1966. They moved to Amarillo, Texas after retirement in the year of 2012. His favorite pastime after retirement was watching Nascar.

In his youth his passion was motorcycles and racing. As a young man he began his dream of building his own racecar (#10) and competing in circle track racing at Southwest Speedway in Amarillo and surrounding asphalt tracks.

He was known as an expert mechanic who specialized in the repair of Minneapolis-Moline Engines and irrigation motors. He was also an elite mechanic who was known for fixing everything “Jess right”.

He is preceded in death by his father, Audrey Wood; his mother, Susie Kenyon, and stepfather, Mike; brother, Johnnie Wood; father-in-law, Richard Knight; mother-in-law, Cordie Knight; sister-in-law, Pat Keller; a stillborn baby boy.

Survivors include his wife, Iris Wood; daughters, Donna Miller and husband, Scott of Amarillo, Susie Scott and husband Greg of Sahuarita, Arizona; five grandchildren, Caleb Miller and wife Lindsay of Caddo Mills, Texas; Jacob Miller of Amarillo, Travis Scott of Savannah, Georgia, Trevor Scott of Mesa, Arizona, Meredith Scott of Sahuarita, Arizona; two great grandchildren, Emmitt Miller, Courtlynn Miller; and four nephews, two nieces and their families.