Hugh Jeffrey "Jeff" Woodberry

Hugh Jeffrey "Jeff" Woodberry, 51, of Eugene, passed away Thursday, July 29, 2021, at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City. On April 30, 2005, in Mary's Home, he was united in marriage to Renae (Bax) Russell Woodberry, who survives of the home. Jeff was born in Wilcannia Hospital New South Wales, Australia to Hughie and Pat and his big sisters Leeanne and Kerry. He weighed a whopping 10 lbs. As a boy before he started school he would ride with his dad in the truck and on one trip he was away for two weeks and wouldn't eat if he wasn't sitting next to his dad. Jeff grew up in Wilcannia, he started school at Wilcannia Central and finished his high schooling in Broken Hill at St Joseph High. He always loved riding horses and was very successful at local gymkhanas riding his many horses, always coming home with multiple ribbons and trophies. He went to Adelaide to start his Wool Classing certificate, but that wasn't for him. He came back home for awhile and went breaking horses with a couple of fellas called Billy and Graham Hudson. He eventually went driving trucks with Bob Eveston, Donny Cranston, Johnny Carmichael and Fattso Thomas, he then worked for Gobell transport in Broken Hill and then got a job up at Moomba gas fields driving trucks. He came to American to follow his dream of competing in Saddle Bronc Riding. He moved across America from California to Nevada to Wyoming and ended up with many families in mid- Missouri. He won numerous awards including buckles and saddles and was the 1993 URA Saddle Bronc Riding Finals Champion. Also in 1994, 1995 and 1999 he was the MRCA Saddle Bronc Riding Champion. He also served as MRCA Bronc Riding Director. He participated in three Extreme Mustang Makeovers and was the 1st place winner of the Ultimate Equestrian Challenge. Jeff met Renae and her three boys, Adrian, Alex and Austin, in 2000 and in 2005 they were married. In 2006, Jeff started his own trucking company hauling cattle and sand through out the Midwest. He opened a leather shop called "Southern Cross Saddle Shop" crafting saddles, belts, holsters, logbooks, purses, coaster and anything leather. In 2010, his Little Baby Princess, Jessi, was born. She was his pride and joy and his whole world, she was Daddy's Girl. Jeff, Renae and their family were able to take many trips to Australia and Jeff enjoyed hosting his friends and family from Australia when they were able to visit. Jeff will always be remembered as fashionably late, life of the party, hardworking, caring loving husband, father and friend that he was. Well Jeff has ridden his last eight seconds on a rough bronc and is now traveling that highway in the sky in his Peterbilt looking over his Renae (Mona Lisa) and Jessi (daddy's girl). Other survivors include: children, Jessi Woodberry of the home, Adrian Russell of Republic, Alex Russell (Shelby) of Holts Summit, and Austin Russell (Kaylee) of Mary's Home; grandchildren, Bentley Russell, Shane Russell and Brody Russell; mother, Patricia Woodberry of Broken Hill NSW, Australia; siblings, Leeanne Williams (John) of Clare SA, Australia, Kerry Murrell of Mildrua VIC, Australia, and Scott Woodberry of Broken Hill NSW, Australia; and several nieces and nephews. His father, Hugh Jeffrey Avon Woodberry, preceded him in death. Visitation will be Tuesday, August 3, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. outside at Redfield Golf Course in Eugene with a Celebration of Life beginning at 7:00 p.m. On Wednesday, August 4, 2021, friends are asked to meet at Redfield Golf Course in Eugene at 10:00 a.m. to form the funeral procession to Our Lady of the Snows Cemetery in Mary's Home for a Graveside Service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Memorials in his name are suggested in care of the family for an Education Fund for Jessi Woodberry at Community Point Bank. Arrangements are under the direction and care of Phillips Funeral Home of Eldon.