Mr. McCurdie passed away Monday noon after having been ill for about two months. Survivors are his wife, the former Mabel Colburn, a son Norman of Seattle, two daughters, Vernice, Mrs. D.E. Charles of Seattle and Ida Mae, Mrs. L.E. Ditaler of St Louis, two grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Mae Cadieu of Indianapolis.
Born on December 22, 1876 in the Town of Oconto, he began to work at the age of sixteen. His first job was as "Cookee" for the Eldred Lumber Company at their camp near Lakewood. He worked for all the major lumber companies as the years passed and held many responsible positions during the period when lumber was the main industry of the area.
He became interested in the conservation and the replanting of the burned and cut over lands and supervised this type of work at the CCC camp at Mountain during the early 30's. From then on, Mr. McCurdie's interest in the conservation of our natural resources became his greatest vocation and he worked hard to help launch the county projects which have given us such areas as Machickanee Forest, and the other replanted acreages.
Even after a broken hip prohibited his working, he watched his trees grow and took pride in the increased number of seedlings which are growing and again making Oconto County the tree covered track he knew as a boy.
His marriage took place in October of 1902, and the family lived in Stiles until 1918. They moved to Oconto Falls and this city has been their home ever since. His love of the outdoors, the trees, the streams and wildlife meant much to him, and the trees he helped to plant will be a memorial to him for generations to come.