Obituary of James L. Woodrow

HERMON – James "Jim" "Woody" L. Woodrow, age 79, of Hermon, passed away on April 23, 2024 at home under the care of his loving family and hospice. Calling hours will be held at French Funeral Home in Edwards on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. There will not be a public service. A private burial will be held for the family in the Hermon Cemetery. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. Jim was born on January 25, 1945 in Gouverneur to the late Floyd and Irene (Hewlett) Woodrow. He graduated from Hermon School in 1963 and married Joan A. Matejcik on June 10, 1972 at St. James Church in Gouverneur. Woody was a dairy farmer on his homestead until 1997 when he converted the gas station in Hermon to a convenience store, now known as Woody's Market LLC, which his daughter, Tracey, owns and operates today. The Woodrow family has produced maple syrup since the 1860's and he ran Woody's Maple until his health wouldn't allow him to keep going. Woody's Maple is now owned and operated by his daughter, Jessica, and her husband. Jim loved to hunt and traveled to Pennsylvania for years to hunt with his close friends. He enjoyed owning several corvettes over the years, built every house he lived in, was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Hermon, and was very active in the St. Lawrence County Maple Producers Association where he was a past president. In the past, he served as a member of the Board of Education for Hermon-DeKalb School, was a CDL Maple equipment dealer for over 30 years and purchases bulk syrup from many local producers to be shipped to Bascom Maple Farms in New Hampshire. In his younger years, he enjoyed bowling and snowmobile racing. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Joan Woodrow, two daughters and sons-in-law, Tracey Woodrow-Petrie (Michael) and Jessica Whitford (Joshua), two sisters, Shirley Cookingham and Joan Cole, and three grandsons, Patrick Woodrow, Avery Whitford, and Jacob Whitford, and several nieces and nephews that he was very fond of. Woody is predeceased by both of his parents, his twin brother, John Woodrow, and brothers-in-law, Roger Cookingham and Kenneth Cole. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jim may be made to the St. Lawrence County Maple Producers Association, 1139 Co Rt 35, Potsdam NY 13676.