Merlo Haynes Woolsey
May 23, 1927 — December 23, 2012
Merlo Haynes Woolsey
Escalante, UT
Merlo Haynes Woolsey, known to his family and friends as Haynes or "Brig" passed away peacefully at his home in Escalante on December 23, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Haynes was born May 23, 1927 in Escalante, to Earl and LaVern Hardy Woolsey. He married Iola Elizabeth Griffin on June 5, 1946 in Beaver. She preceded him in death July 31, 2009.
Haynes was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He attended Escalante High School through the 10 th grade. Throughout his teens he herded sheep for various people in the Escalante area. He was a sawyer for Alvey Lumber Company at their mills on the Red Rocks and Posey Lake. He worked on the Glen Canyon Dam for a couple years before returning to Escalante. He was employed with Tenneco Oil Company as a Production Foreman for over 25 years and retired from the oil field in 1987.
The love of his life was Iola and his grandchildren! Haynes was an avid fisherman. He never disclosed, however, his secret fishing holes! He was an expert in repairing fishing reels and many a fish was caught with one of his hand-tied flies. He also enjoyed hunting with his grandkids. Everyone in Escalante would know that the mail was ready when they would see Haynes walking up main street in his cowboy hat to retrieve his letters. Haynes always was a strong and stubborn man! He was insistent on gathering, cutting, and stacking his own wood; in fact, he cut his last round in June of this year.
Haynes is survived by his children: Merlo Kay (Kathy) Woolsey, Fruita, CO; Cristine (Richard) Tatman, Myton, UT; Eric (Sheri) Woolsey, Escalante; 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild brother and sisters: Earline Nelson, St. George; Marjorie Shurtz, Sacramento, CA; Hal J. (Jo) Woolsey, Salt Lake City.
Also preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law, Homer Nelson and Howard Shurtz.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in the Escalante Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.