Joe Boyd

Posted on: Aug 02, 2023 at 3:18 PM

Hi Joe Long time no talk to... I failed to receive anything from PHS in several years & with the help of Harlon I finally got reconnected Hope all is well with you & hope to see you at the 60th reunion next year.

So sorry to hear about Gary.  He helped me get a new door for my 1953 Studebaker back when we were in high school.  Condolences to his family.

Always smiling, great person, glad to have known him.  You'll be missed, Butch. 

As much as I remember Larry, I also remember his family, especially his younger brother Henry.  October, 1970, I was sitting in the Tachikawa Air Base in Japan, waiting for my flight to the U.S. after 3 1/2 years' duty in the Far East with the Navy.  Suddenly, a young Black soldier came up to me and said, "by any chance, are you from Pasco?"  I looked at his name tag, "Avery," and recognized Henry, who I hadn't seen since 1962.  We had a great visit.  He was just coming back from Viet Nam with his unit.  They were having trouble getting on a flight to the U.S. because of some double booking issue.  He gave me his parents' telephone number and asked me to call them when I got stateside, as it looked like he and his unit would  be there for some time, basically in limbo.  I called his home as soon as I got home, and had a wonderful talk with his mother.  She was so happy to hear that Henry would be home soon, and grateful for the call.   I also worked with Larry's Dad during the potato harvests from 1964 and 1965.  He drove potato truck.  I told him I was a classmate of Larry's, and he told me about the time Mr. Gregson called him and told him Larry had skipped school.  Mr. Avery took Larry out to a stack of concrete pipe, and told him since he didn't like school, he could spend the day working for him.  He had Larry move that entire stack of pipe from one end of their lot to the other, pipe by pipe.  When Larry was done, Mr. Avery had him move it back to where it was.  He made Larry do that all day.   I doubt if Mr. Gregson could have come up with any more of a rigorous punishment. 

Larry was always kind, gracious, and smiling, just like the rest of his family.  They all had a work ethic that I admired and respected.  He was a good soul, and I'm sure he will long be remembered by his classmates, including me.       

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter. That's a rough blow. Take care.

Looking forward to seeing you next week.

Faye was my mom's hairdresser for years.  Sad to hear of Faye's passing.

Congratulations on your grandson, Rick.

Thanks for the birthday wish, Judy. We just added another grandchild (girl) to the fold. I'm happy, but I wish they'd get married first. Enjoy Oregon--Joe

I'm at a loss.  Two weeks ago we were sitting together, my wife, Ilona, Mary Ann and Russ in their living room, catching up, showing pictures, enjoying each others' company.  That event makes this news all the more shocking to me.  We all saw it coming when we lost Wanda; there was a rapid decline and we knew her time was limited.  But what a shock to just wake up one morning, thinking all was normal, then have to deal with the reality of this type of loss.  It makes me look around at my own family and friends and realize again that we all have more yesterdays than tomorrows, that (cliche that it might be) every day is a gift.  When I think of Mary Ann, words like "joy" and "love" easily come to mind, also "enthusiasm" and "tolerance."  That last quality is so meaningful to me, because I see it so rarely in all of us.  I know I have to call Russ today because I promised in a text I would, but I keep choking up, even as I type this.  

Over the years, Mary Ann kept "encouraging" (a more cynical description would be 'nagging') me to write a book about my observations and personal experiences, since she found them hilarious.  "You write that book, I'll be the first to buy it, then I want you to autograph it," she would say over and over again, until I actually felt guilty for not doing it.  If I ever do write anything, I will dedicate it to her.

This is so inadequte, but I don't know what else to write.  She and Russ both encouraged me when I was struggling with my daughter; they supported me as my wife, Wanda's health deteriorated; and they rejoiced with me when they graciously opened their home to Ilona and me when I remarried.  Knowing both of them has been an honor, a privilege, and a blessing.