Jonesport
“Dad, there are no more jobs to do — you have completed them to the best of your ability. It is time to rest” were loving words said to Wayne Elmer Woodward (born July 9, 1928) by his eldest daughter, shortly before he died May 4, 2022.
Wayne lived in Jonesport, except for a short stint farther up the coast in Corea, where his childhood was spent playing outside and around the shore with his brothers and sisters. A lifelong learner, Wayne never grew tired of figuring out how to do, how to fix or how to upkeep at little to no cost except for hours of time. He loved mowing his lawn on his tractor and was looking forward to digging it out of the shed. The birds and animals in the backfield, the children, ducks, geese and animals at the town pond and the lobster boats going down the reach in the wee hours of a Jonesport morning were his constants. He kept notes over the daily weather, wind speed and temperature. Wayne and his wife, Lucille, enjoyed many years with friends and family — attending and hosting gatherings at their home and the camp, dancing, singing, attending church activities, visiting and taking rides.
Wayne was a proud veteran of the United States Navy, serving on the USS Wright in WWII, his boat, his cap and his Navy memorabilia proudly displayed at his home. He held memberships in the Masons, Anah Temple Shrine and the Historical Society.
History was his mainstay. He loved to talk boats, ships and lighthouses. Another library of local information has left us, but one thing his family will know is where and how to find his possessions. WEW is written on everything he ever owned, often more than once and with a permanent marker. Ownership of a laminating machine was a high point in his late years. He loved to read the news, laminating articles of interest for delivery to the people mentioned in them. He took it upon himself to preserve the obituaries of community members, making sure the families received them. He would say, “They are too sad right now to make sure they get a good copy.”
Prior to working at Maine Wild Blueberry, Wayne and his wife were proud owners of Woodward Oil Co., where he worked on burners and boilers sporting hair, hands and clothes covered with the evidence of his labors. He expected a lot from himself and his family, always telling his girls, “Get your education” and “Don’t do as I do, do as I tell you!” His girls remember learning to hunt, fish, shoot, whistle, paint, “fix,” drive, change a tire, use hand tools, tie a knot, ”properly” wash and wax a car, check all vehicle fluid levels, walk in snowshoes, check for a propane leak, go “customing” on the oil truck to figure the slips and make a good pickle in the homemade ice cream freezer — the special gifts one particular year — a train, a bow and arrow and fishing poles.
He was predeceased by his wife of 72 years, Lucille Palmer Woodward, his youngest daughter, Nancy Allen, and his son-in-law Shirley “Pack” Merritt. He is survived by daughter Phyllis Merritt; daughter and son-in-law Colleen and Jim Haskell; son-in-law Sammy Allen; special sister-in-law Rosalie Carver; grandchildren Myra Berry and Michael Berry, Betsy and Matt Lash, Colon and Heather Haskell, Kate and Troy Deporter, Jonathan Allen and Jason Gutierrez, Joseph and Emily Haskell and Clint and Jaclyn Haskell; and great-grandchildren and the great-greats — Nancy, Heather, Abby, Sophia, Delaney Finn, Gabe, Evan, Zoey, Rowan, Phoebe, Max, Murphy, Wyatt and Audrey then Alayna, Barbara, Merliah and Preston.
Many nieces and nephews from two huge family lines remember Uncle Wayne and most have the memory of a unique experience with him.
To all of Dad’s caregivers, we cannot thank you enough for enabling Dad to stay at home as long as he did. East Point — his last home — you treated him royally and allowed him and us peace of heart, mind and soul.
It will be very difficult to turn off the lights at 16 Meadow Lane, Jonesport, but the beacon of his influence will shine in our lives.
A joint graveside service for Wayne and Lucille will be held at Greenwood Cemetery at a later date. Donations in Wayne’s memory may be made to the SMCC Steeple Fund (Attn. Sharon Hext, P.O. Box 249, Jonesport, ME 04649) or a charity of your choice. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.mcclurefamilyfuneral.com.