2002 Pontiac Trans Am

Immortality

Well, often people consider immortality to be attainable as long as you reside in the hearts of those who love you. My father will certainly be immortal if this is so. This page is a place for me to write down things to share and remember about my father. Dad died in August, 1997 after a hard fought battle against a rare form of cancer, called Multiple Myeloma.

Billy Ray (no, not William, and no, not Raymond) was born in the mountains of West Virginia in 1934. His family basically revolved around the coal mining industry, and he did everything he could to get out of there as soon as possible. Just before his 16th birthday, he got a hold of a relative's birth certificate and forged Grandma's signature to join the US Air Force. I believe his subterfuge was discovered shortly before his 17th birthday, but, with Grandma's permission this time, he was right back in the service in no time.

He met my mother on his first tour of duty overseas, and they married in the mid-50s. Starting in 1956, my siblings were rapidly brought into this world - first my sister Berice, then my brother Billy, and then my sister Kerry. I came along much later - 1969 to be exact. :) OK, so maybe I wasn't planned! :)

Dad retired from the Air Force in 1979, with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant, after 28 years of active duty service to his country. He soon was employed again by the government as a civilian, doing much of the same work he had been doing previously. He continued working there until his illness began in 1996.

Dad loved music, and often entertained us with his guitar playing and his singing. During the 80's and 90's, Dad discovered what would become his favorite pasttime - acting on stage with the local music theater. His musical genes were only passed on to his first two children... :(

Dad was just a hair over 6'2", but he walked like he was 10' tall. He also had a deep, quiet voice, that would attract the attention of everyone in a crowd. There are many things about him that stick out in my mind, and I'll just list a few until I get more time to finish this page...

  I have many memories of the smell of his tobacco pipe when i was really young, and now I am reminded of him every time I smell pipe tobacco.

  Probably the earliest clear memory I have is of Dad helping me ride my new bike on my 6th birthday.

  Dad showed an incredible amount of patience in showing me how to drive in his '78 Chevrolet pickup with a 3-speed on the column. He said "Son, if you can drive a 3-on-the-tree, you can drive anything..." Hehehe, well, while I don't know if that's completely true, I can attest to the fact that I have certainly never driven anything more difficult than that truck...

  Dad enjoyed playing the guitar and singing - he did it often in the evenings, and always at big family gatherings. I remember many of the songs he would sing at home - I made a CD of songs that he sang or listened to often. My sister, Kerry, also found a tape recording of Dad singing, and made copies for all of the kids...

  Dad had an old CZ Jawa motorcycle that I think he inherited from my brother. Dad used to ride this thing in the desert behind our house...until it ingested a rag (used in place of an unobtainable air filter) and never ran again. Rumor has it that the bike had no chance after I decided to take it apart and 'fix it'... :(

Probably because of his military life, Dad had a habit of saying: "Stand by..." or "Stand by one..." when he meant "hold on a second"... :)

  Whenever I was on my way out the door for the evening, the last thing I always heard from Dad was: "Be cool..." :)

  When I was in trouble, and made the mistake of back-talking to Mom, he would always say: "Say what you want to your mother, but you better watch what you say to my wife..."

  People laugh at me for doing this, but I still do it anyway: Dad always ate his cornbread by stuffing it in a glass of milk...

Sept, 2002...Dad's birthday. Dad would have been 68 today. Happy Birthday Dad...we still love & miss you... Hey, if you're somehow reading this - I've finally started trying to learn how to play the guitar... :)

Today is July 8, 2004. Dad loved the Independence Day holiday. We spent a lot of time watching - and shooting off - fireworks in the backyard. The whole family would grab chairs and blankets, and we'd all sit out there for hours. Happy 4th Dad...we still love & miss you... Your 15th grandchild - a grandson - is due September 15th. We're hoping he'll be 4 days late... :)

Today is January 18, 2006. Spent this past Thanksgiving at Mom's house, with all of the kids there. Still very strange without you Dad. Still so many strong memories and things that remind us of you. We even had Fighter Pilot Milkshakes. :) Your 15th grandchild was born in September ('04), close to your birthday, and is walking and talking some now. I show him your picture a lot.

September, 2007...Dad's birthday. Happy 73rd birthday. It's been 10 years, and we still miss you. Your 14th grandchild will be 6 in November - she's upset that she didn't get to meet you. :( Your 15th grandchild just turned 3...he's tall & thin, just like us...and a handful of trouble already. ;) Your 16th grandchild will be 1 in October, he'll be standing & walking any day now. I show him your picture a lot. Love you.

-Home-