----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 01/10/1918

Parks, Woodley S. (17 Dec 1869 - 2 Jan 1918)

Woodley S. Parks died of heart failure at his home in this village (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 2, 1918. Mr. Parks was born at Pickett, Wis., Dec. 17, 1869, and had just passed his forty-eighth birthday. He spent his boyhood days on the home farm and upon reaching young manhood attended a Commercial College at Oshkosh, from which institution he graduated. He then accepted employment in a printing office owned by his brother, O. B. Moon, at Eagle River, Wis., but after six months at this worked, in 1891, he accepted a position as manager of a general store located at Eidsvold, Clark County, for the firm of Nye, Lusk & Hudson, of this village. Here he remained until 1896, when he moved to this village and followed the occupation of bookkeeper for Nye, Lusk & Hudson, in which line he was an expert util the end. He was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Boardman of this village on Oct. 1, 1895, and to this union two children were born, Miss Violet and William, who, with the bereaved widow, are left to mourn the loss of a kind and indulgent husband and whose sad and untimely death is regretted by the entire community. In addition to his immediate family hel leaves three brothers, Alvon and Nelson Parks of Pickett, Wis., O. B. Moon of St. Maries, Idaho, and one sister, Mrs. Melvin Nye, of this village.

Upon Mr. Parks' removal to this village he took a lively interest in village affairs and was repeatedly elected as village clerk, holding that office for eight successive years, from 1904 to 1912. In 1913 he was elected as village president, in which office he served for four successive years. In 1901 he was appointed to serve on the Thorp Public Library Board, which position hi filled until death. In all his services in public positions his duties were performed in a credible manner and as a mark of respect all business places were closed from two till three o'clock during the fuenral services.

The interment took place on Saturday last, the body being taken to the Odd Fellows Hall at ten a.m., where many took a last look of all that remained of one who spent so many years in matters pertaining to the best interests of the village.

Services were conducted by the officers of Forest Queen Lodge of Odd Fellows, of which order deceased had been a member of nearly twenty-five years. The pallbearers were: Wm. Schoch, Herman Stracker, H. M. Leibole, Joseph Klouda, John Daniels and Wm. Wagner. Burial followed in the Thorp Village Cemetery. Deceased was also an honored member of Thorp Lodge No. 264, F. & A. M., and the Chapter at Medford.