Allan R. Woodland

September 24, 1973 -

Alan was born on September 24, 1973, in Winnemucca Nevada. He was the 8th of ten children born to William Gail and Karen E Woodland. Alan was a plump ten-pound baby and was easily loved by his siblings. He had a sharp mind that was apparent early on. He attended school in Battle Mountain, class of 1992. He was a natural athlete and participated in football. His positions were running back and linebacker. He was also a naturally strong swimmer. He had a talent for art and had a drawing of his featured on the KOLO weather station. In his youth he also participated in boy scouts and enjoyed many camping trips and hikes. He was an avid hunter while growing up, which he learned from his father, hunting in the Rock Creek area, Mount Lewis, and the Apple Orchard near Battle Mountain, with his dad and siblings. He also enjoyed ice skating on the river and gravel pits around town with his family.
After high school he chose to serve a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He earned money for this by working as a lifeguard at the local swimming pool and for Erik Taylor who later became his brother-in-law. He was called to serve in South Carolina, which he enjoyed very much and was always grateful for and finished the 2 years faithfully. While there, he had the unnerving experience of having someone shoot a handgun at him and his companion while they were on their bikes. He felt that the Lord protected them.
He then moved up to Washington state where he earned his pharmacy tech certificate and worked as a pharmacy tech and took classes at the local college there. During this time, he learned to fly solo and flew around the coast. He came back to Battle Mountain and worked underground mining for a short time, then went to Phoenix Arizona and got a bachelor’s degree in computer systems. During this time, he married and had two children, Jaia Lynn, born July 12, 2002, and William Gail Woodland II born March 11, 2005. He also adopted their older sister, Taylor who he loved as if his own.
He lived with his family in BM for a time, but he had bigger plans and soon was accepted at Oklahoma City University School of law. So, another chapter of his life began as he moved his young family with the help of his dad to Oklahoma City. He successfully completed his Juris Doctorate in law in 2006 passing the Oklahoma bar exam on his first try. His marriage ended and he chose to stay in Oklahoma to be near his children. During this time, his dad was his best friend and remained so until his passing in 2013. Alan adored his children and took great pleasure in spending time with them, participating with them in their activities and planning trips with them. He instructed them and taught them in every way that he felt would benefit them and help them to avoid regrets later in life. He gave them experiences that would strengthen them and enrich their lives. Alan was a very active dad. He helped Jaia go to Belize to help build a school, and to church girls camps. He also taught her how to fish, which they did a lot, and she loved it as well as ice skating every year and even enrolled her in a swim team. He kept his kids active growing up and Jaia says, “I didn’t always appreciate it as a teenager, but looking back, I’m glad we did so many things together”. He took Wil to football camp at BYU and also provided him with a trip to the Holy Land. His goal was their happiness even if it meant keeping the cost of a trip or adventure secret so they wouldn’t have those things to worry about. He loved coaching Wil in football and watching games with him. He also loved Mountain biking with Wil and lifting weights with him and hunting just as he had done with his own dad. Alans children were the most important part of his life. He always made sure to make the trip back to Battle Mountain each summer to keep in contact with family here and tried to get in a visit with every sibling and their families
While living in Oklahoma Alan started his own law firm, “Woodland Law” which he enjoyed and where he put every effort into representing the people who hired him. He was appointed as a special Municipal Judge for the Municipal Court of Record for a 2 year term in July of 2014. During this time, he also got interested in working as an extra in movies and appeared in a Nike commercial, the movie “Gosnell” as an attorney, and “Reagan” as the bodyguard, among others. Alan had the opportunity to buy sailboats that were used in the BSA High Adventure program in the Florida Keys, and, always up for an adventure, he bought 2, 40 foot sailboats, the Fiddlers Green, and The Comfort Zone II, and took many enjoyable trips down to Isla Morada, Florida to maintain them and sleep on them, and sailed one from Texas to Florida with an 80 year old captain named Gordon. He really enjoyed having this adventure in his life. He also enjoyed hiking and mountaineering. He climbed the tallest peak in Mexico, Pico de Orizaba at 18,491 ft. Pikes peak at 14,115 ft. Camelback Mountain in AZ, Mount Shasta, California and Mount Timpanogos in UT. Often taking Wil along.
Alan made the move to Salt Lake City after his youngest graduated and was working as a prosecuting attorney for Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office at the time of his passing. He enjoyed riding his Ducati motorcycle through the Utah canyons in the Fall to enjoy the beautiful Fall colors.
He remained active in the LDS church throughout his life and held the callings of Gospel Doctrine Teacher, and temple ordinance worker among others. He always seemed to take the disappointments in life in stride, and when he would get another bit of bad news he would chuckle softly and say with a sigh “oh boy”. He taught us to persevere, and continue living life, even when things don’t always go the way you hope. To try new things, enjoy life, remain faithful, and just keep going. Alan passed away at the age of 51 in Salt Lake City, at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, after a well-fought battle with cancer. But he packed a lot into those 51 years! He remained ever optimistic, had a strong will to live and didn’t give up. Alan, you are loved, and you will be greatly missed!
Alan is preceded in death by his father, William Gail Woodland and his grandparents Irven and Ruby Rider and Joseph and Bernice Woodland. He is survived by his children Wil, Jaia (Cj), and Taylor. His 9 siblings: Debbie (Tony) Warwood, Kristine (Erik) Taylor, Brenda (Sonny) Cabrera, Kenneth (Karen) Woodland, Nancee (Larry) Stallard, Mike (Michelle) Woodland, Darrell (Rene’) Woodland, Carl Woodland, Sandra (Adam) Hanum. And 34 nieces and nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews.