Loree Woods, who advocated for people with special needs in Lincoln, and her husband, Roger Woods, died last month after an accident on the Colorado River.
On Sept. 29, the Woodses were vacationing in Arizona for their 30th wedding anniversary.
The couple signed up for an excursion with a company in the Grand Canyon, said the Rev. Darin Corder of Bennet Community Church, who had known the couple for 18 years and was granted permission by the family to speak with the Journal Star about the tragic event.
Loree and Roger Woods had gone into the river and were swept away by its current. They were found dead hours later, Corder said.
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Not including the Woodses, 16 people had died as of September this year at Grand Canyon National Park. The park averages 15 deaths annually.
"Even though they are gone, they will continue to impact a lot of people," Corder said.
Roger Woods, 71, was raised in Lincoln, while Loree Woods, 59, grew up in Bennet.
Loree Woods became an advocate after her special-needs daughter, Taylor Woods, was sexually assaulted by a peer in 2016 while she was participating in a Lincoln Public Schools program meant for students with disabilities.
The Woods family filed a civil lawsuit against LPS in 2018. Court documents accused the school district of failing to supervise Taylor Woods properly.
In 2020, the Nebraska Supreme Court found that the state of Nebraska and its political subdivisions had immunity from lawsuits due to an exception in the state's Subdivision Tort Claims Act.
Loree Woods did not stop her quest to make things right for her daughter, though. She sat with state senators to try to get legislation passed that would remove the exception that protected LPS.
LB25 would have allowed courts to order state government institutions to pay compensatory and punitive damages due to civil lawsuits.
In April, the Legislature passed LB25, but Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed it.
In a letter, Pillen said LB25 "would substantially erode sovereign immunity protections that have protected public funds."
Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln said Loree Woods was devastated when the bill was vetoed. But she also remembers Loree Woods' passion for telling Taylor Woods' story at the Legislature and never giving up.
"Really special opportunity I had to meet Loree and Taylor," Conrad said.
She said one of the best parts of being a senator is meeting people you may never meet if not for serving in the Legislature. Loree Woods was one of those people, Conrad said.
"We shed tears together."
Conrad expects to continue to pursue legislation that will hold government entities accountable when children are hurt.
"I'm firmly committed to be a strong voice for Taylor, especially since Loree won't be here," Conrad said.
Roger Woods was with Loree and Taylor Woods through the whole process, Corder said.
"With as much dedication (as) Loree had, Roger was right there with her being dedicated," he said.
The Woodses enjoyed cheering for the Huskers and the Kansas City Chiefs in their free time.
Besides their sports interests, they enjoyed being around dogs and had a number of dogs through the years. Corder said a family member told him there was a laughable amount of dog urns found at their residence after their death.
Roger Woods worked as a diesel mechanic. Corder said he had an impressive ability to know what was wrong with a car by listening to the engine.
Loree Woods worked at Teammates Mentoring Program for the past year.
"Anytime she would step into a room, she brought a warm feeling," CEO DeMoine Adams said.
Adams announced that Teammates will have a yearly scholarship named after Loree and Roger Woods.
"In hopes it shows all the hard work, teamwork and heart she put in," he said.
Cathy Martinez, who was friends with Loree Woods, said they would often sit and talk while their children were in therapy at Horses for Healing.
Martinez admired Loree Woods for all the service she did for people, particularly those with special needs.
"As a mother with a child of special needs, my heart goes out to them," Martinez said.
The family has opened a trust in Taylor Woods' name. They ask anyone willing to contribute to make checks payable to Taylor Jo Woods, SNT, 2077 N St. Ste 320, Lincoln, NE 68510.
All proceeds will be deposited for Taylor Woods' future care.
A service in memory of Loree and Roger Woods will be held Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
Journal Star reporter Ruth Bailey contributed to this story.
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Reach the writer at 402-473-7254 or avargas@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @Alex_Vargas1994
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