Extracted from The Copper Basin News (Hayden, AZ)
Charles Clifford ‘Cliff’ Wood
Charles Clifford “Cliff” Wood, 90, died September 19, 2005 with his family at his side. Cliff was preceded in death by his parents Martin and Frankie Belle (Middleton) Wood from Texas and his three brothers Les, Fred and Bert Wood - all of whom were Arizona natives and ranchers. Cliff is survived by his wife of 59 years, Georgianna (Georgie Kishbaugh) Wood (75), his three children; Ann, Francie and Neal, his six grandchildren; April, Lilah, Grant, Jenny, Katie and Nickie, his five great grandchildren; Hannah, Garrett, Sara, Charlotte and Audrey and his nephew Lynn.
Cliff was born in Phoenix, Arizona on March 21, 1915 and left his family's home in Mesa in 1920 when he accompanied his father on a trip in a buckboard pulled by two mules to the west end of Aravaipa Canyon in Pinal County. Soon after, the Wood family acquired land along the Aravaipa Creek and became well known for their Angora goat and cattle business.
After the Selective Service and Training Act of 1940, Cliff was inducted into the US Army in January 1941 and was honorably discharged in August 1943. Cliff and his brother Fred formed the Wood Brothers Partnership on their Panorama Ranch where Cliff and Georgie raised their three children. The Panorama Ranch was also home to Fred, his wife Alice and their two sons Lynn and Marty Wood who were like brothers to Ann, Francie and Neal. The Panorama Ranch was sold to the The Nature Conservancy in 1970, however Cliff and Georgie continued to live in Aravaipa Canyon just downstream from the family homestead.
Cliff served on the Dudleyville School Board before it was consolidated with the Ray Unified School District.
Cliff was a man of many talents; in his earlier years he played the violin, harmonica and guitar. He was skilled in many trades including welding and heavy equipment operation and he was especially gifted in divining wells (finding low water tables for well drilling) and gardening. Cliff was a master storyteller; he and his wife Georgie have preserved much of the region's historical data and accounts of events in Pinal and the surrounding counties. For Cliff's 90th birthday celebration, his family orchestrated a video tribute to Cliff, using almost 1000 photos captured on DVD to commemorate his life. The video is a revealing look at Cliff's work, family and his love for the land -- a slice of Arizona history.
In his last days Cliff often said, “Its hell among the yearlings” as his family gathered close around him, singing, reminiscing and continuing the tradition of telling Cliff's stories. Cliff passed peacefully with his wife and children at the Casa de la Luz Hospice in Tucson, where the wonderful staff were comforting and thoughtful. Donations to Cliff's memory may be made to the Casa de La Luz Foundation, 400 West McGee Road, Tucson, AZ 85704.
A private family service will be held in Cliff's memory and his ashes will be scattered along some of his many paths overlooking Aravaipa Creek and the country he loved.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
March 21, 1915 - September 19, 2005