Jerry Dean Wood passed away September of 2003 of a major heart attack while at work in his office. He had not been feeling well all week and from what I would come to understand turned everything over to my brother about a month before his passing. My father was president and part owner of C. W.Wood Machinery, Inc. My Grandfather, Charles Wood, started the business over 50 years ago. My uncles, brothers, cousins have all worked there. I worked there when I was younger, but was never really interested in the family business. Not sure if that is because of my past or just pure lack of interest.
I always remember my dad being at work, bringing work home, having work on the brain. There were always pictures of machines and notes about them scattered all over the table or desk or next to his chair at home. I remember he always carried a brief case too. If he wasn’t working, Saturdays too, he was at home taking care of my mom, Nancy. He always attended church “Groesbeck United Methodist” for as long as I can remember. My mom would preach it, but my dad would attend it. Dad never preached about religion, but he lived it. He never was outspoken about his faith, but he had it deep within him.
The things I seen him do over my 35 years amazed me. But I can tell you he never knew I thought those things. I watched him help families who needed help. I seen him give and care about his own employees. I watched him go to church every Sunday. I watched him give of his time. I watch him care about those around him. But most of all I watched him love a woman who was or seemed to me almost impossible to do so. I remember when it would be just him and I in the car, coming home from some soccer event, I would ask him questions about me being adopted. He would say ‘You’re adopted?” which would make me think, am I? Or I would ask him about Nancy and when they met. I would ask him if he ever thought about her polio and her legs. He would tell me that he never really noticed it. He loved to dance and so did she and that was all that mattered. I remember him flirting with her when he came home from work and cleaning up the dished from dinner. I remember the one glass of wine each night after or sometimes before dinner. I remember him doing, giving and being anything Nancy wanted him to be. He loved her deeply. No matter what or who she was, he was committed to her, “until death do they part”.
In the end though, I think he was tired. I think life wore him out. He died even younger than my grandfather. He was the last to survive of his brothers. But he died way too young. He never got to know my boys. I think today he would be so proud of them. He would be amazed how tall they are, how different they are, how beautiful they are. I think he would be so interested in them. It breaks my heart that he is not here to see who they are becoming.
So why now after 6 years do I finally go to his grave? I am not really sure. He has been on the forefront of my mind lately. When he passed I was upset, but not like my brothers. They worked with him on a daily basis and seen him every day. My oldest brother Jeff is the one that found him and had to perform CPR on him. I know for my brothers it was one of the toughest time in their lives. For me I was kind of numb. I went through the process and at the end of the day most people, beside relatives and friends, didn’t know he even had a daughter. Most thought he only had two sons. I guess that hurt me. This made me think he never thought about me or talked about me. But I too have to take responsibility here, I never came around. Not because I didn’t want too, but because of the relationship that was between my mom and me. This put a huge amount of strain on the relationship with my father. I, as I am sure he did, had to make a decision on what is best at the time. It was a time in my life where getting out all the toxic relationships was what was best for my overall being.
My father was an amazing man. He was and still is my mentor. I wish he would have known that before he passed. So after 6 years of him being gone and striving to live the faith filled live he did, I thought it was time to go talk with him. To let him know that I love him, to let him know that he has grounded so much of what I do now in me. That I forgive him and that I hope he forgives me. Sitting at the cemetery for a couple hours on the ground, no one around, but you and all the grass, leaves, trees, is very peaceful. It was this peace I needed to move onto the next chapter of my life. It was the reassurance that every white butterfly I have seen since his death was his way of telling me he is still around. Its knowing that with all his quiet love and heart filled with God that the mark he left on me will continue to mold me into the person God intends me to be.
I love you dad!
Julie
| Originally published on 9/18/2003 |
| WOOD, Jerry |
| WOOD . Jerry Dean. Beloved husband of Nancy (Wilson) Wood. Devoted father of Jeff (Stephanie) Wood, Chuck (Pam) Wood and Julie (John) Metzger. Dear grandfather of Trevor, John, Joey, Bill, Brad and Corinne. Uncle of Kimberly Beckman, Norman and Doug Wood. Son of the late Charles and Dorothy (Bookout) Wood. Brother of the late Donald and Robert Wood. Also survived by many relatives and friends. Tuesday, September 16, 2003. Residence Green Twp. Member of Model A Ford Club. Funeral Service Paul R. Young Funeral Home, 7345 Hamilton Ave., Mt. Healthy, Saturday 10:30 A.M. Friends may call Friday from 5 to 8 P.M. If desired, remembrances may be sent to S.O.N. Ministries, c/o Groesbeck United Methodist Church, 8871 Colerain Ave., Cinti 45239 or to MDNA Austin D. Lucas Scholarship Fund, 315 S. Patrick St., Alexandria, VA 22314. |
