Hugh Parmelee Drury

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Hugh Parmelee Drury, 87, of Ironwood, died Dec.17, 2017, quietly in his home, surrounded by loved ones.

Hugh was born in Iron Mountain on Oct.19, 1930. He graduated from John D. Pierce High School in Marquette. He attended college in Utah and graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in forestry. Hugh and his wife, Dorcas, briefly lived in Laurel, Md., before moving to Anchorage, Alaska, where he was stationed at Fort Richardson Army Base. He was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Hugh was honorably discharged in the late 1950s. They moved to Burlington, Wis., followed by Marquette, before settling for good in Ironwood. Hugh worked for Keweenaw Land Association in Ironwood for 35 years as a forester and manager.

Hugh was a loving husband to Dorcas, father of five girls, grandfather and great grandfather. He had the gentle soul of a forester and loved his family, pets, camp and the woods. He served on the Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees, National City Bank Board, was a Boy Scout troop leader, and was an elder and a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Ironwood. He was a parent volunteer at Sleight School and spent many a night flooding the skating rink that once was adjacent to the school.

Later in life, Hugh and Dorcas enjoyed traveling to southern climates as well as historical sites and destinations. Hugh made a hobby of learning about the Civil War, President Lincoln and painter-illustrator Phillip Goodwin. He also was a diehard Lions and Red Wings fan, in good times and bad. But Hugh's true second love was his camp on Conway Lake, north of Marquette, where he, Dorcas and the kids spent summers with his extended family. When at camp, Hugh was truly at home, his days filled with chores, naps and fishing, and his nights with a spunky game of Cribbage, Euchre or Bridge.

Hugh is survived by his five daughters, Laurel Fedo (John), Shirley LaCrosse (David), Melissa Gitter, (Richard), Jennifer Schaum (Andrew), and Priscilla Drury Wilson (Robert); grandchildren, Domenic, Criste, Gia, Marco, David, Stephen, Eric, Calvin, Casey, Camille, and Benjamin; great grandchildren, Odette, Alessandro, and Hugh; his sisters-in law, Marilla Neafsey (Jack), and Jane Drury; many nieces and nephews; and dear friends and caregivers, Lisa Hanson and Liz Mathias. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Charles P. and Hazel L. Drury; his grandson, Christopher Gitter; and his siblings, Jeanne, Alfred, David and Shirley.

A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Big Bay on Aug. 4, 2018, at 11 am. Inurnment will be at the Powell Township Cemetery. For further information on the service, contact Lory at 218-969-9740.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Bay Cliff Health Camp, 310 W. Washington, Suite 300, Marquette, MI 49855, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements were entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood. Condolences may be expressed online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.