A Sad Day

Received a phone call today from our great friend Betty Boyes. Her husband Bill passed away this morning. Bill had been in hospitals and rehab many times this year for various problems related to his liver and kidneys, probably a result of exposure to agent orange during the Vietnam crisis.

I have known Bill since 1989. We enjoyed many of the same things, computers, camping, our kids, etc. Bill and I joined the Masonic Lodge at the same time and we worked together as Secretary and Treasurer of the Lodge for seven years.

He was there during my troubled marriage, my divorce, my engagement, and was the best man at my marriage to Nancy. He did not enjoy country dancing at first, but learned his first dance so he could dance with Nancy at our wedding. He provided counsel to my children and celebrated the births of my grandchildren. All while doing the same for his own children and grandchildren.

When my RV had problems, he would drive to Alabama with me and we'd share stories of... everything. Nancy and I shared vacations with Betty and Bill in our RV, (the picture above was taken at Churchill Downs and the chapeau he is holding was not for him) and their generosity extended to inviting us several times on their vacations to Florida and St. Maarten.

Bill was my brother, a great man with a large, generous and compassionate heart, and I will miss him dearly.