Advertisement

Iris Wayne “Spud” Wood

Advertisement

Iris Wayne “Spud” Wood

Birth
Oklahoma, USA
Death
20 Sep 2010 (aged 97)
Burial
Plainsburg, Merced County, California, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
From Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home:

In Memory of
Iris Wood
May 18, 1913 - September 20, 2010
Obituary

I.W. (SPUD) WOOD

Iris Wayne (Spud) Wood, 97, a Merced resident since 1938, passed away on Monday, September 19, 2010 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Spud was born in Oklahoma in May 1913 to Jettie Lee Wood (Green) and James Alexander Wood. Spud had four sisters, Lola Faye Riley, Elva Moore, Eva Wilkinson, and Zell Bradstreet and three brothers, Jim Wood, J.A. Wood, and Thomas Doyle (Tade) Wood.

Spud was a farmer in the old tradition. He started his career in farming as a 14 year old boy in Texas, operating the family farm. After graduating, he married his high school sweetheart Mary Evelyn Gudgel. They had their first child, Annetta, and left Texas for California when she was 5 months old during the 1936 dust bowl. In California, he worked as a hired hand in farming operations in El Nido. Spud and Mary moved to Merced in 1938 and bought a 36 acre plot of raw land, built a house, and resumed his farming career while working for other local farmers in the area. Spud farmed different crops including figs, turkeys and alfalfa until until he started his dairy. After retiring from the dairy, he raised beef cattle until his final retirement at the age of 91.

Throughout his life, Spud was an avid hunter and had the "Best Hunting Dogs" in the country. He tracked and hunted various wild game in the local area and in the mountains, but always came home every night to his "Darlin Mary." They were married 77 years. Spud was predeceased in death by his son, Kenneth Wayne Wood. Spud is survived by his wife and two daughters, Annetta E. Meyer and Myrna Akins. They also have five grandchildren, Gregory Meyer, Kellee Meyer, Aric Akins, Andrea Berrett, and Angela Smith. They have ten great-grandchildren, Kate, Emily, Aren, Adam, Abigail, Allison, Shannon, Connor, Dakota and Kali.

Spud and Mary traveled and enjoyed their close friends with whom they started the California Drifters RV Club. Spud sponsored hunting dog shows and field trials throughout California in the 1950s with his prized dogs and pet raccoon, Rackie. He was in a constant but friendly competition with fellow dog lover, Roy Rogers.

Spud always enjoyed being with young people and on many occasions took his grandsons Greg, Aric and many Boy Scouts and other young people on night excursions wit his hunting dogs. Spud was also a great family man enjoying get togethers and telling stories of his hunting escapades.

Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home at 1490 B. Street, Merced on Saturday 25, 2010 at 1 PM. Internment will follow at Plainsburg Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions may be made to:

The Merced Historical County Society
Old County Courthouse
21st and N Streets
Merced, CA 95340

From Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home:

In Memory of
Iris Wood
May 18, 1913 - September 20, 2010
Obituary

I.W. (SPUD) WOOD

Iris Wayne (Spud) Wood, 97, a Merced resident since 1938, passed away on Monday, September 19, 2010 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Spud was born in Oklahoma in May 1913 to Jettie Lee Wood (Green) and James Alexander Wood. Spud had four sisters, Lola Faye Riley, Elva Moore, Eva Wilkinson, and Zell Bradstreet and three brothers, Jim Wood, J.A. Wood, and Thomas Doyle (Tade) Wood.

Spud was a farmer in the old tradition. He started his career in farming as a 14 year old boy in Texas, operating the family farm. After graduating, he married his high school sweetheart Mary Evelyn Gudgel. They had their first child, Annetta, and left Texas for California when she was 5 months old during the 1936 dust bowl. In California, he worked as a hired hand in farming operations in El Nido. Spud and Mary moved to Merced in 1938 and bought a 36 acre plot of raw land, built a house, and resumed his farming career while working for other local farmers in the area. Spud farmed different crops including figs, turkeys and alfalfa until until he started his dairy. After retiring from the dairy, he raised beef cattle until his final retirement at the age of 91.

Throughout his life, Spud was an avid hunter and had the "Best Hunting Dogs" in the country. He tracked and hunted various wild game in the local area and in the mountains, but always came home every night to his "Darlin Mary." They were married 77 years. Spud was predeceased in death by his son, Kenneth Wayne Wood. Spud is survived by his wife and two daughters, Annetta E. Meyer and Myrna Akins. They also have five grandchildren, Gregory Meyer, Kellee Meyer, Aric Akins, Andrea Berrett, and Angela Smith. They have ten great-grandchildren, Kate, Emily, Aren, Adam, Abigail, Allison, Shannon, Connor, Dakota and Kali.

Spud and Mary traveled and enjoyed their close friends with whom they started the California Drifters RV Club. Spud sponsored hunting dog shows and field trials throughout California in the 1950s with his prized dogs and pet raccoon, Rackie. He was in a constant but friendly competition with fellow dog lover, Roy Rogers.

Spud always enjoyed being with young people and on many occasions took his grandsons Greg, Aric and many Boy Scouts and other young people on night excursions wit his hunting dogs. Spud was also a great family man enjoying get togethers and telling stories of his hunting escapades.

Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home at 1490 B. Street, Merced on Saturday 25, 2010 at 1 PM. Internment will follow at Plainsburg Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions may be made to:

The Merced Historical County Society
Old County Courthouse
21st and N Streets
Merced, CA 95340


Inscription

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS



Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement

  • Created by: Karen Burns
  • Added: Mar 26, 2014
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/126957378/iris_wayne-wood: accessed ), memorial page for Iris Wayne “Spud” Wood (18 May 1913–20 Sep 2010), Find a Grave Memorial ID 126957378, citing Plainsburg Cemetery, Plainsburg, Merced County, California, USA; Maintained by Karen Burns (contributor 47568512).