BOY, William Adam Jr.

1925 - 2008  (83 years)  Submit Photo / Document

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• Name	BOY, William Adam
  Suffix	Jr.
  Nickname	Bill
  Birth	30 Jan 1925	Independence, Jackson, Missouri, United States
  Gender	Male
  _TAG	Reviewed on FS
  Death	12 Mar 2008	Tempe, Maricopa, Arizona, United States
  Burial	15 Mar 2008	Tempe, Maricopa, Arizona, United States
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I36021	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
  Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

  
  

  Father	BOY, William Adam Sr. ,   b. 3 Jun 1901, Grayson, Clinton, Missouri Grayson, Clinton, Missourid. 5 Feb 1987, Kenosha, Kenosha, Wisconsin (Age 85 years)
  Mother	SCHOENHARDT, Florence Amelia ,   b. 30 Sep 1896, Joplin, Jasper, Missouri, United States Joplin, Jasper, Missouri, United Statesd. 9 May 1979, Racine, Racine, Wisconsin, United States (Age 82 years)
  Marriage	15 Jan 1925	Independence, Jackson, Missouri   [1]
  Divorce	Abt 1940	Racine, Racine, Wisconsin, United States   [2]
  Notes	Divorced in 1940 but continued to live together as man and wife until death.
  Family ID	F20114	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	SHEPPARD, Alice Marion ,   b. 31 Oct 1925, Racine, Racine, Wisconsin, United States Racine, Racine, Wisconsin, United Statesd. 28 Mar 2015, Tempe, Maricopa, Arizona, United States (Age 89 years)
  Marriage	28 Sep 1946	Racine, Racine, Wisconsin, United States   [3, 4, 5]
  Notes	Married at the Albert Street Evangelical Church, Racine, Wisconsin, Sept 28. 1946 Engaged on Sept 25, 1943, Racine Wisconsin Brides 1st Wedding shower given by Nancy and Carol(sisters) on Sept 12, 1946
  Children	1 son and 3 daughters
  1. Living   2. Living + 3. Living   4. Living
  Family ID	F20124	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

  
  

• Notes

  Bill was in the U.S. Navy, Jan 1943 to Feb 1946 He worked at Racine Motor Coach Co. for 15 years, from Apr 15, 1948 to 1963. He worked at J.I. Case Co. for 25 years, 1963 to 1986. Recall stories: in Chicago with Walter and Shirley in the Elevator - What did you say your name was Milk cap on the forhead any more culture and I will turn to yogurt taking the whittle to california mom taking ham from gypsy Personal History given at William's Funeral by his son William III: William Boy did not live an outstanding life, by the standards of the world. He did not climb Mount Everest, receive high Educational Degrees or obtain Elected Positions of Political Office. William Boy did live a great life never the less. William Adam Boy Jr. was born to William Adam Boy Sr. and Florence Amelia Schoenhardt Boy on January 30th 1925, in Independence Missouri. Bill was lucky to last his first year of life. As a baby he was taken to the babysitter while grandma and grandpa Boy worked. Bill was a small frail child, and no matter how often they feed him he never gained weight. The Doctor was consulted and nothing was found to be wrong. The babysitter continued to care for Bill, and would leave the bottle in his crib with him so that he could finish up every last drop. Every time she checked on Bill, he had finished of his bottle and still wanted more. Yet he continued to lose weight. Then, one day the baby sitter caught one of the other children sneaking Bill's bottle. She watched as the child carefully took the bottle from Bill's crib, drank it and returned the empty bottle to the crib. Grandma, quit her job soon after that and nursed her little boy back to health. At the age of 3 his family moved to Racine, Wisconsin, because his father had found work at the Consumers Rock Quarry, as a steam shovel operator. His last year of formal education was the 9th grade, yet one of his talents was his ability to speak at the level of the company he was with. Whether, Doctor, Businessman or Pauper, Bill had the ability to put people at ease while in his company. In 1943 at the age of 18, Bill joined the Navy to serve his country in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It was during this time that Bill became engaged to his sweetheart Alice Marion Sheppard. After the war he returned home and married Alice on September 28th 1946. Together they setup their home in Racine. During these early years the LDS church was nothing more than a small branch in Racine, a close knit group of saints and friends. Bill’s sense of humor has always been a source of enjoyments and embarrassment for those who knew him. While at an LDS Regional Conference in Chicago with their friends, Walter and Shirley Sutter, the two young newly weds decided at the last minute to stay the night in a hotel to stay for the Sunday morning session of conference. To reduce their expense, they decided to share a hotel room. Now picture the scene, two young Navy men in their uniforms, two young women with no luggage, sharing a room together. As they stand in the crowded elevator, with all of the sensitivity of a bull in a china shop, my father turns to my mother and in a clear voice says, “What did you say your name was?” September 25, 1948, Bill and Alice received Sharon Alice Boy, their first daughter into their lives. Bill and Alice drove to Utah in 1955 to be sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. Unfortunately, the temple was closed for cleaning so they drove down to Manti Utah to be sealed. As their family grew so did the Racine Branch. It was in these early years of the church in Wisconsin that my father also had the good fortune of getting to know Cyril and Lera Whittle. Cyril and his family came to Wisconsin while he worked to sell his hay bailer to the J.I. Case Company. As Cyril drove between Racine and Idaho where the rest of his family lived he was suddenly taken ill. Their 5 youngest children where left in Racine with my parents when their mother went to be with her sick husband. A desperate call came from Sister Whittle in Idaho. Cyril had just died and would you please arrange transportation for my 5 children to get a bus ride to Idaho in time for their father’s funeral. Bill had to tell these 5 small children that their father had died and then asked if they would prefer to ride the bus or have him drive them to Idaho. They asked him to drive them, and so off they went. All 6 of them in Dad’s 1959 Volkswagon Beetle. They didn’t get more then 100 miles before they were stopped by a snowstorm. Dad explained the circumstances to a motel owner and was able to get all six of them into a single room at a reduced rate. The next day they were back on the road and continued onto Idaho. Last May at Aunt Lera's 100th Birthday party, the line to talk to my Mom and Dad about how much that kind gesture meant to the Whittle family, was as long as the line of people that wanted to talk to Aunt Lera. we felt like the children of celebrities. Bill worked at Wheary Trunk and Luggage before the war and as a bus driver during the early years of their marriage. Many of his friends at the Bus company knew Sharon, because they had watched her grow up through the company parties. If one of Dad's friends saw Sharon downtown, they would mention it to Dad. So when Sharon would tell Dad that she was going to the library to study, he would hear from his friends the next day, "Hey Bill, I saw Sharon downtown yesterday" He would call Sharon on it, and ask her why she wasn't at the Library like she said she would be. This happened so often that she just gave up and started going to the Library when she said she was, because she couldn't figure out how Dad could be so many places at one time. In 1960, a second daughter joined the Boy family, Susan Joann, and the following year a son was born to carry on the family name, William Adam Boy III. Bill and Alice had purchased their house from Bill's Dad. It was right next to the Rock Quarry that Bill's Dad had helped to dig during the depression. Early family photo's show the quarry filled with water and the Boy family used it as their own private pond. Sharon learned to swim there, Dad's would scuba dive with his buddies there, and that was the last place we have pictures of Mom in a swimming suit. In 1964, The Boy family was made complete with the birth of their final daughter, Tamara Lynn. Dad used to be much more athletic then you may expect. Once while flying in a storm with his good friend Elmer Torgeson. Dad told us that they passed the tower (and of last 2/3rds of the runway) while they were still 30 ft off of the ground. And the landing was the easy part. After filling the gas tanks they had to turn the plane into the wind so that they could take off. Elmer needed Dad to weight down the tail of the plane while he “powered-up” the throttle. Dad held the plane as best he could while Elmer “powered-up” as he let go of the tail and began to run for the door of the plane, the tail kept pushing against his back. He finally caught up to the door and grabbed the wing support and door jam, and jumped onto the footstep as the plane was leaving the ground. It was 20 years before Dad ever flew with Elmer again. Racine County decided to turn the quarry into a County Park, and The Boy family moved to Barbara Dr. in 1968. Dad found a good job at J.I. Case where he worked on the line and eventually became an inspector in the Quality Control Dept. where he worked for more then 25 years. Mom and Dad always made sure that we did something special for a summer vacation each year. In 1973, after Dad had purchased a new Chrysler Newport, we planned to visit the newly opened Disney World in Florida. He thought it was a great way to break in the new car. We were all very excited about the trip. Then, 2 days before we were suppose to leave for Florida we got an invitation from the Whittle Family to come to California. With that single phone call, we changed our travel plans from Florida to California. On the drive out to California, we stopped at a rest area to get some sleep. Tami slept in the back window, Mom and Dad each took a bench seat, and Susan and I slept on the huge hood of the car. It was nice and warm from the running engine and we were very comfortable, until it began to rain. After we all scrambled back into the car and got situated, we were back on the road. We had a great time with the Whittles and we got to go to Disneyland. In 1980, Bill and Alice drove their new motor home out to Utah to pick me up from BYU. While they were there they had the chance to visit the Art museum, go to Plays, Operas, and Oratorios. After a full week of cultural activities, Mom and Dad and I were at a play. Dad recounted the weeks list of activities (loud enough for surrounding rows to hear) and then added to the laughter of all those within earshot, "If I get anymore cultured, I am going to turn to yogurt." This is just the type of humor that we have all learned to love and expect whenever Bill was around. In 1994, Bill and Alice Boy pulled up their Racine roots and followed their daughters out to Arizona. They wanted to see their grandchildren grow up and looked forward to never shoveling snow again. They made many new friends and have enjoyed being close to their family. Just this year they were lucky enough to have Dad’s sister “Auntie Marge” move to Arizona to be nearer to them. In 2003, Mom and Dad moved in with Sue and Robin. This has been a wonderful blessing for them, for Sue and Robin, “Not so much”. I know that Dad has loved living in Arizona and has enjoyed getting to know so many new friends out here. I have enjoyed sharing with you these stories of my fathers life and I thank you for the love and friendship that you have shown my mother and my father during their time here. William Boy did not live an outstanding life, by the standards of the world, but, William Boy did live a great life never the less. Blessing given to William Adam Boy Jr, by his son William Adam Boy III, 10:10am, Feb 14th 2007, Mesa Arizona William Adam Boy Jr. as your son, as a father in Israel, and as a Melchezidek Priesthood holder, I give to you this blessing that your Heavenly Father would have you to receive at this time. Bill, you have been a good Father. You have surrounded yourself with a loving family through your own hard work and though your service. Your family loves you very much; do not deprive them of your presence, your wisdom and your love. Bill this is the sunset of your years, meet this time with honor that you may return to your Heavenly Father having received all of his blessing that he has in store for you. Know at this time that your Father is aware of your pain, aware of your heartache, aware of your suffering. Bear up these burdens in these last days and be strong in them. I bless you at this time that your pain will be lessened, that your energy will be greater, that your faith will increase, and that your family around you will be strengthened by your presence. You have children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that look up to you as the patriarch of this family, wear that mantle with honor, and wear it to the end, that as you are remembered, that those memories most dear will be the ones that they recall. It is not by chance that your Heavenly Father has saved you past all of your friends. You have learned a lot from the friends that you have kept, and it is now in these final days that you can reflect back on those memories of service and friendship that you have given to your friends, your country, and your family. Let those memories buoy you up at this time. I bless you that you will know when your time is due that you might have the opportunity to close this chapter of your life with your family and with your wife, that you might bring to close with a clear heart, a clear mind, and a clear conscience, this life. As you prepare to move through the veil to be with your loved ones on the other side, I bless you that you know here and now, that your Heavenly Father loves you and that he is proud of the life that you have lived. Your life has been a life of service, you have borne a heavy burden, and you have borne is well. You have raised a wonderful family that you have kept strong in the Gospel. Do not be afraid at this time in your life. Rely on those around you; those that you love and those that love you, that they may show their love for you for the rest of your life. It is not yet your time, but your time is at hand. Be strong in these last days, be an example to those around you. I bless you with these things and all that our Heavenly Father would bless you with at this time, in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

  
  

• Sources

  [S963] Boy, William A Sr 1MZF-L42, 50th Anniversary, (Jan 1975). "The Boys were married Jan 15, 1925 in Independence (Missouri)." [S964] Boy, William A Sr 1MZF-L42, Divorce, (abt 1940). [S970] Boy, William A Jr 1MZF-KVF, Marriage License, (26 Sep 1946). ... Married 26 Sept 1946, Racine, Wisc. ... [S971] Boy, William A Jr 1MZF-KVF, Wedding Announcement. [S972] Boy, William A Jr 1MZF-KVF, Wedding Invitation.