Nelda Azeil Conklin Wood was born on February 14, 1920 in Chico to Laurence Marion Conklin and Emma Azeil Shearin Conklin. She moved quite regularly throughout local valley towns and claimed to have attended eight schools in two years. Finally settling in Chico to stay, she met Walter Goldman Wood in 1935 and married in March 1936. They stated their family and had two sons Leroy and Dennis and daughter Sheryl. They always went to the same schools, because both Mom and Dad didn't want them to have disruptions they had in their lives. They build their house on East Ninth Street and stayed there until Walt passed away and Mom was convinced to move to Forest Ranch with daughter Sheryl and her husband Keith. They had a small grocery store on Humbolt until she became a full time housewife and Dad ran a local gas station. He retired in 1965 after daughter Sheryl finished high school. They spent most of their time either hunting or fishing usually around the Butte Meadows area. Camping was always the weekend activity. She taught most of the grandkids how easy it was to catch fish. She once won a fishing contest by catching the largest steelhead. She was an avid card player, Pinochle being her game of choice. She was a tough poker and hearts player every Christmas with her grandkids and great grandkids. In her 80's she was showing her grandkids how to make angels in the snow. She was a talented artist, her paintings proudly displayed by friends and family alike. She could crochet amazing creations without patterns and loved crafts of all kinds.

She always knew she was blessed to have the family and friends she had. Most everyone that knew her called her Gran or Granny. Family was the most important part of her life. She was always visiting with the grandkids and just spending quality time with them all. She finally accepted living in Forest Ranch and being able to see the wildlife every night at her back door including her first mountain lion encounter.

She was an active member of Native Daughters of the Golden West, Annie K. Bidwell Parlor in Chico.
She is predeceased by her husband Walt, sons Dennis and Leroy. She is survived by her daughter Sheryl (Keith) Brann of Forest Ranch, daughter-in-law Sheryl Wood of Oroville, grandchildren Christy (Tim) Bradford of Biggs, Susan (Clay) McDonnell of Oroville, Brian Wood of Oroville, and Mark Boles and fiancé Margie Smith of Durham; great grandchildren Jessica (Brian) Kelly of Sisters, OR. T.C. Bradford of Chico, Lindsay McDonnell of Chico, Travis Wood of Oroville, Matthew Boles of Durham, Tanner McDonnell of Oroville, and Melissa Boles of Paradise. She leaves behind many friends who she also considered family.
Graveside services will be held Thursday December 5, 2013 at 2pm at Glenn Oaks Memorial Park Chico. Donations in her name can be made to the NDGW Home in care of Newton-Bracewell Funeral Homes.