I really have to dig back into the recesses of my memory to recall much about Vians Valley Presbyterian Church. I do remember some things, like the beautiful view from up there, and painting bird houses, and getting all dressed up like a little angel for a Christmas pageant. That’s where Fred Boozer preached, and his wife Louise played piano. Up until I was three years old, Louise or “Weezy” was my babysitter, and for part of the day I would go and stay with them and Louise’s mama “Granny,” at their house with the big spruce tree in the front yard. I remember how we would stuff birdseed and peanut butter into pine cones and put them out for the birds, and how her cat would come flying by the house and clamber up that big tree on the bank. Fred would always give me a big wink and grin, and I tried so hard to wink back at him (it’s hard when you are two). They had a little ukelele there and I would prance around like a little rockstar (it was, of course, guitar sized to me then). Granny would always smile and fish around in her pocketbook for a nickel or a penny to give to me. Sometimes we would go over to Fred’s Mama’s house where she lived with her son John (you may remember him from the Spruce Pine KFC). She had a nice big blueberry patch out back that I loved to visit.
When I learned that Fred and Louise were moving down to preach in Lenoir it broke my little three-year-old heart. They moved into a beautiful old brick home down there, and every once in awhile I got to go down and stay with them and Buzzy their orange tabby (named because he purred so loud). I remember Fred taking a stack of papers and drawing a slightly different picture of a boxer on each piece. Then, he flipped them and it blew my mind to see that boxer jabbing and juking. In their den I would help adjust the rabbit ears so we could watch the Braves and this great rookie named Chipper Jones, or Georgia Tech play basketball.
One time Louise took me out to Broyhill park for a walk and a chance to feed the ducks. In the mud I saw a little abandoned duckling that was shivering and had flies on it. She let me bring it back to the house, and where we put it in a little shoebox and wetted some cat food down for it to eat. The little duck actually made it, and we decided to name it Lenny after Lenoir. I took Lenny back to Mom and Dad’s farm, and eventually “he” went on to be an odd duck that started laying eggs in the pond. I kept calling her Lenny anyhow.
Again, Fred was called to move to a church, this time in Savannah. They were happy to be back in Georgia, but Savannah was pretty far away for us to visit. So, as things often go, more and more time went by without me getting a chance to see them. I thought about them a lot, and did get to visit them one time when I was passing by Acworth (where they retired).
The last time I saw Fred was at my wedding. I was so happy that they could make it up the mountain to come. I know it was a long drive, and Fred’s health was poor. But, they came. They continued to be the same sweet, gentle, and giving couple that gave me such a great start in life.
Rest in peace Fred.
Love, William
When I learned that Fred and Louise were moving down to preach in Lenoir it broke my little three-year-old heart. They moved into a beautiful old brick home down there, and every once in awhile I got to go down and stay with them and Buzzy their orange tabby (named because he purred so loud). I remember Fred taking a stack of papers and drawing a slightly different picture of a boxer on each piece. Then, he flipped them and it blew my mind to see that boxer jabbing and juking. In their den I would help adjust the rabbit ears so we could watch the Braves and this great rookie named Chipper Jones, or Georgia Tech play basketball.
One time Louise took me out to Broyhill park for a walk and a chance to feed the ducks. In the mud I saw a little abandoned duckling that was shivering and had flies on it. She let me bring it back to the house, and where we put it in a little shoebox and wetted some cat food down for it to eat. The little duck actually made it, and we decided to name it Lenny after Lenoir. I took Lenny back to Mom and Dad’s farm, and eventually “he” went on to be an odd duck that started laying eggs in the pond. I kept calling her Lenny anyhow.
Again, Fred was called to move to a church, this time in Savannah. They were happy to be back in Georgia, but Savannah was pretty far away for us to visit. So, as things often go, more and more time went by without me getting a chance to see them. I thought about them a lot, and did get to visit them one time when I was passing by Acworth (where they retired).
The last time I saw Fred was at my wedding. I was so happy that they could make it up the mountain to come. I know it was a long drive, and Fred’s health was poor. But, they came. They continued to be the same sweet, gentle, and giving couple that gave me such a great start in life.
Rest in peace Fred.
Love, William