Remembering Daddy

[ozarxoffspring]

To some, Father's Day is a day countless children take time out to pay homage to their fathers, both living and those who have passed. I suppose I fall into that category as I haven't been on this old stomping grounds of Daddy's in a while now, yet here I am.

There are some here who never "knew" Daddy. You missed the humor and wisdom of a great man. His writings can still be found here, his spirit lives on in all the little tid-bits he left throughout this site. He touched many lives. But let me tell you of how you touched his.

Way before I came to live with Mom (Ozark Angel) and Daddy (Ozark) I began to hear about Doug's Message Board. I called and checked on them just about every day and Daddy was quick to tell me about what all he had read and posted here. He began to call you by your "handles," he called it (an old CB-er once) and began getting quickly involved any way he could in making your lives easier, or at least easier to cope with.

Daddy was an insomniac as far back as I can remember. Doug's Message Board didn't help--in fact, it may have exacerbated the condition. But oh, with much pleasure did you make his sleepless nights bearable. Always the reader and a writer at heart, he found countless hours of captive audience with you. All of you. Never did I hear him complain about any post, or person posting it.

Then came the time the health of my parents was to the point they needed assistance. That's where I came in. A middle child and with "middle child-syndrome" as bad as it gets, selfishly, I welcomed the day that it was "all about me." I wasn't TOTALLY selfless, you see

To assist you with understanding our family dynamic, here's how it was, at least from my perspective: Mom was the disciplinarian. She sort of had to be. Daddy having a career in the US Army, Mom was left with three kids and if she didn't want a house full of hoodlums, by default, the rod fell into her lap. Now Daddy? Well, what Mom lacked in patience, Daddy made up for in the ability to lead, to teach, and to encourage. Don't get me wrong, Mom had MANY strong, positive attributes, but when it came to teaching us, it was "one and done!" In other words, you got one chance to follow through with her instructions/orders and if you didn't take full advantage of that, the "done" part came. Your butt was paddled with a wooden paddle.

Daddy, on the other hand, would look at your infraction from all angles and even bring you in on the process. Why you did/didn't do it? What factors came into play when the infraction took place? Who influenced us and whom was influence by our actions? Where the ball was dropped and the consequences of our actions. And most of all........what we had learned from it and the likelihood of it to pop back up in the future?

Having had adopted Daddy's way of child-rearing and always the over-thinker, my youngest son asked me once while I was in the middle of one of my record-long speeches/explanations, "Mom, can't you just whip me?" I had to laugh a little to myself.

I saw first-hand while living with Mom and Daddy just how excited and involved he got when someone here asked him a question about either some kind of ammo, hunting, or an opinion of his. Oh, my...and when he posted something, either a new thread or a reply to one of your writings, he'd go back every minute or so until he saw a comment to what he had written. It was comical, actually. He was like a little kid with a new "cat-eye" marble. He wanted to show it to everyone and oftentimes called me or Mom in from another room to show us pictures or read us posts you guys had updated.

The joy he got from this site was immeasurable. And because of that, Mom and I were equally blessed. We loved him so very much. His joy was our joy. And for that, I thank you from the depths of my soul.

I miss him every day and cry from time-to-time because it becomes unbearable. This site, for me, is a hallowed place. A place where my Daddy once roamed and can still be "heard" through the threads creating the tapestry of Doug's Message Board. Yes, today, as every day, I honor my Daddy, Ben R. Boyd, SR., known only as "Ozark" to many of you. But I want to thank ALL of you Dads today for being stand-up, honorable men to the children, grown or not, in your lives. Daddy was greatly respected, but also one who respected greatly those who were honest, hard-working, stand-up guys.

Happy Father's Day,

Teresa R. Boyd-Knappenberger
Ozark's middle child, youngest daughter, and biggest fan.
OZARXOFFSPRING

[tar12]

It was nice to hear from you! I think of your Father often.....although I only met your Father and Mother in person once it left a lasting impression upon me. They were old school in many ways yet your Fathers mind was always open to new ideas. I miss him most for his down to earth common sense wisdom...Happy Fathers day my friend....

[rambler]

Just read this thread and must say that is an excellent tribute to you father. I never had the pleasure of meeting him or sharing posts but I've heard nothing but the best about him. I am so sorry for your lose and thank you for sharing this with everyone.

Happy Fathers Day!

[Richard]

It is nice to hear from Ozark's kin. He definitely gave you the ability to write and express yourself. I still have some bolts your daddy sent me from a project I was working on. When I see them, he immediately comes to mind. His book of writings sits on a shelf right by the computer.
Happy Fathers Day Ozark.............The board is thinking of you.
Richard

[dannoboone]

Thank-you, Teresa, for the insight and letting us know him
even more. May his "Back Porch" never be taken down. He
was a gem.

[Deleted]

His wisdom and spirit will not be forgotten here...Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us...I had been on here only a short while and was a Greenhorn to all this smokeless muzzleloading ...Your Dad taught us all shooting techniques and lifelong knowledge that he had learned...We all miss him...Take Care and stay in touch....Allan

[ET]

Ozarxoffspring

Your father was a unique individual who also touched many lives. In a way he was a dad to many of us and tried to put a family atmosphere on this board.
He may be gone but never forgotten by us who had the privilege of knowing him even if it was through a message board.


Ed

[jims]

I miss his postings. He had a practical viewpoint to life. Also enjoyed his book.

[pposey]

Ozark reminded me a whole lot of my grandfather in many ways, his stories always rang true for me. He is missed by a rather large "family".

[wilmsmeyer]

Ben Boyd

I still have some things from Ozark. An orange storage box, kinda like an ammo storage box. I have his book. This year I sold a muzzle loader I bought off of him back in 2007. I killed 4 deer with it several years ago but it was so heavy with the Boyd's (how ironic, that's his last name) stock that it sat in the gun cabinet for several years without being used. The guy who bought it has no idea what he has in his hands, where it's been or what the history of it is. Ozark didn't have the strength to seat tight loads anymore and couldn't use it anymore.

This place is still called Ozarks back porch. He spent lots of quality time here invoking people to think, telling stories which invoked people to think and basically was the most respected individual member we had. He had wisdom. He could call anyone out in a nice way and not get an angry reply. He could talk to anyone in his own way in an effective manner. A true resource if you wanted to take the time to listen and engage him.

Still miss him all the time. Glad we have this labeled "Ozark's back porch". A tribute and a reminder of a very good man with no agenda other than to be "real" and help people. We could all be better at communicating with each other if we only stopped to read many of his posts and appreciated the gentle, yet direct, approach he took to issues.

Great man. Great forum to dedicate to him. R.I.P. Ben

[12ptdroptine]

I still miss Ozark.....
Thanks for stopping by Teresa
Drop

[Jon]

wilmsmeyer. So very well put. I still have his book in the front of my books. And think about him often. Till this day I remember his post's about him his Angle and his family. A very great man and a role model to look up to. I wish I was as good as some to put things into words!

[ozarxoffspring]

Thank you all so very much. He loved you more than words in this world will ever be able to express. He always looked beyond your words deep into your person. He thought about you all long after he went to bed. Couldn't tell you the times he called me to his bedside to make a note or two to put beside the computer for the next day's session with you guys Good times, good times.......