Forrest Burns Meek

Forrest Burns Meek, known to most as Woody, was born June 11, 1928 and died August 6, 2012. In the years between those dates, his curious, optimistic nature brought him enough adventures and accomplishments to fill several lifetimes. He was a teacher, a historian, a mentor, and a seeker. His legacy will be the lives that he touched and changed for the better. Woody taught thousands of students during his career in a variety of subjects and places. From Earth Science to drama to speech to 8th grade science, he used the content to teach his Clare students to be thinkers. In Wuhan, China, he taught local graduate students to use English effectively and took great joy in sharing his own culture and learning about theirs. He spent years in rigorous research of Clare County history so that he could make the story of our past accessible to Michigan residents through his books. He cared deeply about all of his students, young or old. He was born in Tustin, Michigan to Robert Burns Meek and Electa Gallup Meek and grew up in northern Michigan with his brothers and sister, Robert, Weldon, Paul, and June. Weldon (Hazel) Meek and June Hastings survive him, as do Robert’s wife, Lisa, and Paul’s wife, Martha. He enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from high school and proudly served in Austria at the end of World War II. He married Jean R. Grimes in 1953 in Lansing, Michigan. After exploring several occupations, he found his calling as a teacher and moved with Jean and their four children to Clare, Michigan. Along with his wife, he is survived by his children, Sally (Don) Dunlop, Tom (Giovanna) Meek, Nancy (Allen) Nickels, and Charles (Kimberly) Meek; his grandchildren, Nora (Karl Klockars) Dunlop, Diana Horton, Maxwell Dunlop, Spencer Meek, Tong Meek, Alexander Meek, Moira Meek, and Connor Meek; his step grandchildren, Jennifer Kirkwood and Allen Nickels; his wife’s siblings, Robert (Joyce) Grimes and Janet Grimes; his special cousin, Dr. Charles (Pam) Asplund, and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Kathie Van den Brink Meek and his grandson, Paul Horton. His family is especially grateful to his friends and caregivers at The Horizon Senior Center in Clare. Services for Forrest will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. at the Clare Middle School Auditorium. Burial will be in the Cherry Grove Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. at the Clare Chapel of Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Clare Depot Restoration Fund or to MidMichigan Home Care and Hospice. On-line guestbook at www.stephenson-wyman.com

Forrest Burns Meek

June 11, 1928 - August 6, 2012