FARM SHOW Says Goodbye To C.F.

FARM SHOW Says Goodbye To C F FARM HOME Miscellaneous One of the best friends this magazine ever had moved onto higher pastures on February 17th C F Marley of Nokomis Ill would have been 95 years old on April 9th When FARM SHOW launched in 1977 he had already been writing for other national farm magazines for 20 years He was a regular contributor on a freelance basis ever since right up until months before his death making him the oldest working ag journalist in the country C F ’s output was simply amazing and he never slowed down working just as hard in his 80’s and 90’s as he did 50 years earlier Being an inventor himself with a bunch of his own patents C F had a nose for new inventions like nobody else I ever met For 60 years he roamed the back roads of Southern Illinois looking for new machines and ideas He knew all the big thinkers and innovators He would often drop in unannounced at farms where he knew the owner was an “idea man” and say “What have you got for me today?” C F was a decorated veteran of World War II joining the U S Navy at the beginning of the war He wrote a book about his military experiences and was instrumental in the building of a Veterans Memorial in his home town He was a well-known “letter to the editor” writer in his hometown advocating limited goverment and patriotism C F was married to his late wife Ruth Ann for 66 years and had 7 children He was baptized married and then eulogized in the same church just a few miles away from the farm where he grew up and lived most of his life During the last few years when C F was forced to start using canes and walkers he started sending us a stream of inventions to make life easier for anyone with limited mobility For example we published his “dual wheels” for walkers for getting over rough ground Last year after falling in his home and having trouble getting back on his feet he devised a series of ropes and pulleys to attach to the walls of his house to help get back up At the time of his death he was working on getting a patent for that new idea C F was so instrumental in documenting the history of agricultural inventions throughout his career that several years ago the University of Illinois asked him to donate his photo and story files to be archived in their library We’re going to miss C F around here “Thanks” is too small a word to express gratitude for 40 years of service and friendship Rest in peace C F You earned it

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