It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear father, husband, grandpa and great-grandpa, Roy Allan Wood, age 90 years, at Hillview Manor Care Home in Estevan, Sask., on March 7, 2007.

He was predeceased by his parents, Waid and Margaret Wood and two brothers, George Wood and Henry (Bud) Wood.

He is survived by his loving family: wife Heather of Estevan, daughter Susan (Garth) Shepherd of Alameda; two granddaughters, Sherry (Warren) Sproule of Regina and Laurie Wall of Regina; two great granddaughters, Alanna and Allison Sproule and two great grandsons, Jake and Max Wall; three sisters-in-law, Kay Wood of Estevan, Janet Malcolm of Neepawa, Man., and Jean Malcolm of Woodlands, Man., as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Roy Allan Wood was born on June 25, 1916 in Williston, N.D., the second son of Waid and Margaret Wood. His mother died when he and his two brothers were very young, leaving his dad to raise three small boys alone. They bought the farm in the Souris River valley, seven miles north of North Portal, in 1919 and it remains the home farm today although no one lives there anymore. Life was tough for a widower with small children and they had several housekeepers throughout the years, but sometimes they had to be left alone while their dad worked on the farm. Roy and Bud started trapping for money to buy clothes when they were school age and they trapped on and off for most of their lives. The boys all went to Ernewein School and Roy had to quit after Grade 8 to go to work. When the "Dirty 30's" came along, Waid bought some land north of Winnipeg and they moved down there to raise cattle as there was always hay to be had there, even in the Depression years. It was there that Roy met Heather Malcolm and they were marred on April 17, 1940. Their only child, Susan, was born there and in 1947, they moved back to the Wood farm in the valley. In 1957, they bought the Mel and Norma Barber house in North Portal, where they lived for 47 years until failing health forced them to move to Estevan.

Roy was a farmer, plain and simple. He was happiest in blue jeans, work boots and a cap. He loved to hunt and fish and did so as long as he was able. Playing cards was something else he enjoyed all his life ? Norwegian whist, canasta, hoofendoofer, cribbage and a variety of other games and he was good at them all. He had a good memory and could always remember what cards had been played. Both Roy and his brother, Bud had a great sense of humour and liked to tell a story or a joke. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to a neighbour or work around town or on the golf course. He was a life member of the Gateway Cities Golf Club. Besides farming, he worked for Soo Security Motorways for a time, helped various elevator agents, and was caretaker of the curling rink for several winters. He enjoyed curling and watching all sports on TV. In his later years, he could always be found outdoors cutting grass, trimming hedge or tending a large garden with most of the produce given away to friends or family. Roy was an avid reader and kept up with world news right up to the end.

The funeral was held from the Chapel ofthe Boire Funeral Home in Estevan on Saturday, March 10, 2007. Roy was cremated at his request and his ashes will be scattered in the Souris River valley that he loved so much.