Carlton Woodard

Carlton Woodard Carlton Woodard, a remarkable businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, husband, father and grand-father, died Friday, January 13, 2017 in Eugene of age related causes. He was 92. Carlton — or Cart as he was known to all — lived most of his life in Cottage Grove, raising a family, building and running wood products and real estate companies, and giving generously to the communities that were his home. Cart was born March 21, 1924, in Eugene to Dutee and Arthur Ely. Although his biological father was Arthur Ely he was raised from a very early age by Dutee and Walter Woodard, always considering Walter his father. He spent his young life in the London area near Cottage Grove, where he attended local schools including London Grade School and Cottage Grove High School, before graduating from Menlo High School, located in California, in 1941. He later attended Menlo Junior College prior to moving back to Cottage Grove at which time he enrolled and attended classes at the University of Oregon for one year. In 1942, with World War II raging, Cart joined the U.S. Marine Corps. While training in California, he met Joy Miller at the University of Southern California. She became the love of his life. They married on Nov. 30, 1944, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Cart was then stationed in Hawaii, to prepare for the invasion of the Japanese home islands, which was avoided with the surrender of Japan. Cart proceeded to earn a degree in Business Administration from USC in 1947 and earned his final rank of First Lieutenant before his discharge from the Corps. He and Joy then moved to Oregon and settled in Cottage Grove. From 1947 to 1957, Cart worked with his step-father, Walter Woodard , commonly referred to as W.A., at the Cottage Grove lumber mill (Woodard Lumber Co.) founded by W.A. In 1957 W.A. sold the mill to Weyerhaeuser Corp., which continues to operate to this day and is recognized as one of the nation’s most efficient producers of dimensional lumber. W.A. had previously established Kimwood Machinery Company as a repair shop primarily dedicated to providing repairs necessary to the equipment at the lumber mill. Kimwood Machinery Company was incorporated in 1951 with Cart overseeing the operation for 40 years prior to turning it over to his sons. Kimwood remains in business under Woodard family ownership in Cottage Grove. Cart and his family built the Village Green Motor Hotel in Cottage Grove in 1960 and the Valley River Inn in Eugene in 1973. Several other hotel developments followed outside the state of Oregon. In addition to business and his family, Cart loved travel and sports. With his wife and family, he travelled to more than 100 countries. Although his business degree was from USC, Cart considered himself a lifelong Duck. He loved college sports, particularly anything involving University of Oregon football, basketball and track. He was a Duck football season ticket holder from 1951 until 2011 and a basketball season ticket holder to the time of his death. He was also an ardent supporter of Cottage Grove High School athletic programs, and was a Lions season ticket holder well into his late 80s. Cart was drawn to civic affairs and public service. In addition to being a member of the Woodard Family Foundation from its inception in 1952, Cart served as a Cottage Grove City Councilor from 1958 to 1960; Chair of the Cottage Grove Hospital Board from 1972 to 1975; member of the board of the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce from 1971 to 1978; member of the Oregon Trail Council of Boy Scouts of America Council from 1983 to 1993 and its President from 1980 through 1982; board member of the Lane Community College Foundation between 1985 and 2000; and was a member on the corporate boards of Far West Federal Savings, 1971-78; US Bank of Oregon, 1979-96; and NW Natural Gas Co. 1979-1996. He received numerous awards. Those he was most proud of were the Distinguished Service Award (1958) from the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce; the University of Oregon Pioneer Award (1979); and the University of Oregon College of Business Administration Dean’s Award (1980). Cart loved the community of Cottage Grove, where he and wife Joy, lived from 1947 until 2012, when they moved to Eugene. Cart is survived by Joy, his wife of 72 years; three sons, Kim (Rebecca) of Tucson, AZ, Kris (Paige) and Casey (Cyd), of Eugene; grandchildren Dena McCoy, Andrew Woodard, Joy Bridgens, Tyson Woodard, Tia Woodard and Julie Woodard; and great-grandchildren Kade, Ava, Bret, Cameron, Emma and Oceanna. The Woodard family would like to thank everyone for their kind words, thoughts and shared memories. Cart’s hope was that if anyone should wish to acknowledge him that they do so in a way that will help young boys by contributing to the Oregon Trail Council – Boy Scouts of America. His strong desire to help young boys started at a young age when he attended the first Boy Scout Jamboree in 1937 held in Washington D.C. One of Cart’s fondest memories was this cross country train trip with fellow Cottage Grove scouts to attend this Jamboree. At Cart’s request, no service is planned and as Cart noted “those who knew me, know of my interests and accomplishments”. Cart’s obituary and guestbook can be found at www.musgroves.com. Arrangements entrusted to Musgrove Family Mortuary. Please access the obituary and you are invited to sign the guestbook at musgroves.com