Kathy Fuhrman Woods

KATHY FUHRMAN WOODS, age 58, died on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, in her home with her loving husband and friends by her side. Kathy was born on January 30, 1957, in Dumas, Ark., to Leland and Marian Fuhrman of Gillett. She graduated from Gillett High School and continued her education in Nursing at Henderson State University. Kathy was an Emergency Room nurse at Arkansas Children's Hospital for 32 years where she gave excellent care to the children and families of Arkansas. She was greatly loved by her co-workers. Kathy was married to Bill Woods on October 10, 1988, in Cozumel, Mexico. Bill and Kathy shared a common love for travel. Early on in their relationship they often traveled to Cozumel, and enjoyed going on cruises and exploring the world together. Kathy was heavily involved in animal rescue for many years and in 2007, seeing a need for pets that had no resources for assistance, she formed the rescue group "Out of the Woods Animal Rescue of Arkansas." This group was designed to meet the needs of stray, abandoned, abused, neglected, and injured pets; pets that lived in areas where no resources such as animal shelters, were available to citizens willing to help these canines and felines. Since its inception, OOTW volunteers, led by Kathy, have saved thousands of pets not only in Arkansas but across the United States, literally taking them "out of the woods" and seeing that their vet needs were met and then appropriate, loving homes found. Kathy's passion to help these pets was embedded deeply in her soul and nothing deterred her from saving a pet in need. Many times Kathy crawled under abandoned mobile homes, houses, sheds and the likes, to bring a litter of babies' home to safety. Thanks to Kathy's vision, thousands of pets have been saved and homed and hundreds of Arkansas citizen's asking for assistance to help a dog, cat, pig or donkey in need have been assisted by Out of the Woods and her passion will live on in the dozens of volunteers that will carry on her mission. Kathy loved all expressions of art especially New Orleans inspired works. Kathy, Bill and friends often traveled to New Orleans for vacation where they shared many memories. She enjoyed flowers, gardening, decorating and then redecorating. She loved baking many desserts but especially loved baking pumpkin bread and giving it to others. Although Kathy did not have children of her own she was very involved in the lives of her nieces and nephews. If you asked her family they would tell you there was not an Easter that went by that Kathy did not hand make a special basket for each child. Kathy is survived by her husband of 26 years, Bill Woods; fur babies, Cayenne, Roxy, Zelma, Elsie and Spitty; parents, Leland and Marian Fuhrman; sister, Sharon Tidwell and husband, Randy; brother, Benny Fuhrman and wife, Paula; sister, Bonnie Fisher and husband, Arlis; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. A celebration of Kathy's life will be held on Sunday, July 12, 2015, at Allsop Park, 3700 Cedar Hill Road, Little Rock. Friends and family are welcome to join us for dinner beginning at 6 p.m. with a service following at 7 p.m., officiated by Russ Breshears. The celebration will be pet friendly. In lieu of flowers and food the family requests that donations be made in Kathy's honor to Out of the Woods Animal Rescue and Referral (www.ootwrescue.org). Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.