Merle Wood

Merle F. Wood was a strong-spirited, hardworking American, who farmed many acres in the heart of this country with his wife and family. He loved his work, and moreover, he loved his life and time spent with his family and friends.

The year was 1914 and great changes were sweeping across the country. The skies had darkened over Europe and the raging conflict slowly dragged the U.S. down into the trenches of the war. People everywhere were braced for the conflict, as everybody from farmers to factory workers rallied to support the troops abroad. For Floyd I. Wood and his wife, Bessie (Hessel), life in Scottville, Michigan, was far removed from these events. A small farming community in Custer Township was the site of the Wood family farm on Wilson Road. Floyd’s father, Isaac Wood, started in 1876, what is now a “Centennial Farm.” While Floyd managed the dairy farm, Bessie was a busy homemaker, and in the summer of 1914, the couple was preparing for the birth of their first child. Son Merle Fairbanks made his arrival on June 30th, to the delight of his parents. He was quickly followed by two brothers, Ivan and Wayne.

Merle lived and worked the farm all of his life. It is the place he called home, and the place where he created a lifetime full of memories with his family and friends. Although farm life meant lots of hard work, Merle loved the farm, and there was no other way he would have liked to spend his time. He attended Wilson School near his home, and later graduated from Scottville High School in 1933. He and his brothers played football on the high school team, and Merle played baseball on a community team. Merle later injured his knee while playing football in an alumni game.

While attending a gathering in 1933 at the Harmony Grange Hall on the corner of Darr and Chauvez Roads, Merle met a beautiful young lady named Myrtle Cox. Her beauty and grace captured his attention. The two soon began dating and during their seven-year courtship, they attended many dances together. They were happily married on August 28, 1940, at the home of Rev. Fred Stewart in Bachelor. The couple would spend the next 62 years together, raising their two children, Beth and Ronald, enjoying their grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, sharing many wonderful moments together as a family. His loss was great when Myrtle died on November 4, 2002.

As the third generation operators of the Maple Wood Farm, Merle saw many changes in techniques and farming equipment from when he was a child. One such change was the implementing of tractors and mechanical equipment instead of using a horse, walk behind plow, and sweat. But no matter, Merle had a passion for farming in his heart and nothing was going to change that. He operated the farm for 90 of the 129 years, and took great pride in feeding and milking of the livestock, and especially planting and harvesting of the crops. He believed that proper stewardship of the soil was very important, like planting in just the right conditions, good use of soil waterways, cultivating just so, and rotating the fields in an orderly manner. For many years, Merle and his good neighbors, Dallas Lehman and Albert Monton, purchased farming machinery together and helped out on each other’s farms. As a strong, stout man, Merle worked as hard as an ox, and in his prime, could load 1,500 bales of hay per day.

Aside from the farm, Merle was also active in several community organizations. He and Myrtle were active members of the Jr. Farm Bureau while they were dating and first married, and in 1947, Merle became President of the Mason County Farm Bureau. Like his father before him, Merle was a member of the Western Michigan Electric Co-op Board, the Mason County Soil Conservation Board and served on several of his church’s boards. He also acted as Custer Township Justice of the Peace for a short time. Merle and his father Floyd were one of the first farms in the county to participate in the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, and maintained 67 years of continuous milk testing. In addition to farming, Merle operated a sugarbush with his father, until his passing in 1956. After that, he helped his cousin, Wendell Young with his sugarbush for many years. In fact, the Young's equipment is on display at Historic White Pine Village in Ludington, where Merle and Myrtle were members of the Mason County Historic Society.

Although farming was his passion, Merle’s family always came first in his heart. He and Myrtle had a wonderful relationship and did everything together. She was truly the love of his life. When the children were younger, Merle and Myrtle had a ritual, which you could set your watch by. Every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. they would make their weekly trip into town. As the kids grew older, this ritual moved to Friday mornings. For vacation, they would take trips to Indiana to visit relatives, or take a leisure day trip in their motor home to somewhere nearby. The kids joked that it took a week to pack and another week to unpack just for a one-day trip. Often, the grandchildren would join in these excursions and fun. On one occasion, they traveled all the way to Dallas for a REA convention, and Myrtle worried prior to the plane ride. Faith was also important to Merle. He and Myrtle were lifelong members of the Scottville United Methodist Church and felt strongly about raising their children in the Christian faith.

The holidays were always special times for the Wood family. Easter always brought new clothes, and new beginnings, while Thanksgiving was celebrated surrounded by family, with lots of good food and, of course, football games. Every Mother’s Day, Merle took the family out to dinner, and always presented his beloved wife and mothers with flowers. Merle never failed to have a card and gift for Myrtle for every special occasion. They made such a great pair – she was a wonderful cook, and Merle loved to eat. His favorite meal included meat, potatoes and a vegetable, but on Sunday mornings, Myrtle always treated him to Biscuit Toast, which was biscuits submersed in hot milk and sugar. The sweet aroma from her wonderful breads, biscuits, sweet rolls and pies always filled the house, and drew everyone to the kitchen.

In his leisure time, Merle enjoyed following all the Detroit sport teams and listening to Friday night fights on the radio (and later on television). He was also a loyal watcher of Lawrence Welk and the Ed Sullivan show. He and Myrtle enjoyed attending Farm Bureau picnics, and high school class reunions through the years. Merle continued to farm with his son and daughter, and their families, well into his 80s, grinding tons of grain to feed the cows and heifers. As health failed, Merle limited himself to mowing the yard and tending to their garden.

Merle Wood was an honest and diligent man with a passion for farming and a deep respect for the soil. He was a humble, hardworking man, who was very proud of his family and his farm. A true example of a gentleman, Merle taught his children how to love their spouse and family. He always held himself up to a high standard, and because of this, he reaped the rewards of a loving family and great friends. All who knew Merle Wood will treasure his memory.

Merle F. Wood died early Monday morning, April 18, 2005, at the Oakview Medical Care Facility in Ludington. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Myrtle, his parents, and his brothers, Ivan and Wayne. He will be lovingly remembered by his children and their families; Keith and Beth (Wood) Riffle of North Custer Rd. Scottville and their children, Kevin and Carol Riffle of Allendale, Bruce and Kim Riffle of Custer, and Alan and Barbra (Riffle) Wills of Honolulu, Hawaii; and Ronald and Neva Wood of Wilson Rd. Scottville and their children, David and Kerri Wood of Scottville, Jamie and Barb Wood of Custer, Beka Wood of Kaleva, Joe and Jessica Wood of Scottville, and Matt Wood of Scottville, thirteen great grandchildren, and his sister-in-law Leona Wood of Escanaba.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 22, at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville, with his friend and neighbor, the Rev. Norm Letsinger officiating. Burial will take place at Brookside Cemetery in Scottville. Friends may meet with his family for a time of visitation on Wednesday, April 20, from 1-4 p.m. at the family home, 1248 East Wilson Road, Scottville, and from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may leave a memory for his family, or make a memorial contribution to either Historic White Pine Village, or the Scottville United Methodist Church.