Phantom Captain
Member
Hey everyone,
Unfortunately I have very sad and hard news. My Father died last week 2/13/08 at 7:15pm. He was my history and civil war buddy, mentor, father, black powder shooting buddy and best friend. I talked to him multiple times a day, everyday and spent every weekend with him either shooting, casting, cooking or just talking. We had a great life together.
He struggled with emphysema and ultimately succumbed to lung cancer (Please Stop Smoking!). Thankfully he didn't suffer and it was quick and easy. He was home, with my brother and I and I held him in my arms at the end to his last breath. He was where he wanted to be at home, our place of peace and serenity, with his two boys that he loved more than life itself. Who can ask for more?
I am crushed, sad and really feeling the pain and loss but ultimately I can't really be sad. Most fathers and sons didn't have what my Dad and I had and I will never take that for granted. I have no regrets and know I am not one to say, "I wish I had spent more time with him, or wish I knew him better" because all I did was talk to him and spend time with him. It's a beautiful thing. But I will miss him dearly everyday of my life.
He handed down to me this heritage and love of black powder and like me would browse these boards everyday and we would talk about all you guys and the things on the board to no end and constant amusement. In a way all of you contributed to our life too. So thanks!
I picked up his ashes yesterday and I can think of no better tribute to him than to mix a pinch of his ashes into my powder and horn everytime I refill it or go out. He made three rifles in his life and now I hold them close to me as they are him. His blood is in the wood stocks as he knicked and cut himself while making them. They are his true essence and now he will also be part of them and the Holy Black Powder that he and I loved so much.
I will shortly be moving in to his house back in Indiana and really can't wait to get out to the peace and quiet that it always brought to all of us. He will be close to me and around me always. I love you Pop!
Allen M. Boyd 10/28/44 - 2/13/08 Rest in Peace.
I just wanted to show a couple pictures of his rifles, they are priceless to me and will forever be in the family.
The top one is a .36 squirrel gun he built in the late 60's, just before I was born.
The gorgeous one in the middle is a .62 smooth rifle circa 1770-80. This was the last one he completed only a year or two ago. The stock is curly maple and the way he finished it really brought out the striping. It's just stunning.
The bottom is my personal favorite and the one he that he was really proud of and of me shooting (I'm really good with it!!). It's a .54 Hawken with a Douglass barrel. It took him about 30 years to complete, :lol: . He bought the parts back in the early 70's at Friendship, started it but found that his new family and children distracted him to other things,
. He did a few things to it here and there but just never got around to finishing it. Then as I got older and became interested in the same things, he retired and finally did have the time to go back to working them again. The Hawken was finished about six years ago.
Unfortunately I have very sad and hard news. My Father died last week 2/13/08 at 7:15pm. He was my history and civil war buddy, mentor, father, black powder shooting buddy and best friend. I talked to him multiple times a day, everyday and spent every weekend with him either shooting, casting, cooking or just talking. We had a great life together.
He struggled with emphysema and ultimately succumbed to lung cancer (Please Stop Smoking!). Thankfully he didn't suffer and it was quick and easy. He was home, with my brother and I and I held him in my arms at the end to his last breath. He was where he wanted to be at home, our place of peace and serenity, with his two boys that he loved more than life itself. Who can ask for more?
I am crushed, sad and really feeling the pain and loss but ultimately I can't really be sad. Most fathers and sons didn't have what my Dad and I had and I will never take that for granted. I have no regrets and know I am not one to say, "I wish I had spent more time with him, or wish I knew him better" because all I did was talk to him and spend time with him. It's a beautiful thing. But I will miss him dearly everyday of my life.
He handed down to me this heritage and love of black powder and like me would browse these boards everyday and we would talk about all you guys and the things on the board to no end and constant amusement. In a way all of you contributed to our life too. So thanks!
I picked up his ashes yesterday and I can think of no better tribute to him than to mix a pinch of his ashes into my powder and horn everytime I refill it or go out. He made three rifles in his life and now I hold them close to me as they are him. His blood is in the wood stocks as he knicked and cut himself while making them. They are his true essence and now he will also be part of them and the Holy Black Powder that he and I loved so much.
I will shortly be moving in to his house back in Indiana and really can't wait to get out to the peace and quiet that it always brought to all of us. He will be close to me and around me always. I love you Pop!
Allen M. Boyd 10/28/44 - 2/13/08 Rest in Peace.
I just wanted to show a couple pictures of his rifles, they are priceless to me and will forever be in the family.
The top one is a .36 squirrel gun he built in the late 60's, just before I was born.
The gorgeous one in the middle is a .62 smooth rifle circa 1770-80. This was the last one he completed only a year or two ago. The stock is curly maple and the way he finished it really brought out the striping. It's just stunning.
The bottom is my personal favorite and the one he that he was really proud of and of me shooting (I'm really good with it!!). It's a .54 Hawken with a Douglass barrel. It took him about 30 years to complete, :lol: . He bought the parts back in the early 70's at Friendship, started it but found that his new family and children distracted him to other things,
. He did a few things to it here and there but just never got around to finishing it. Then as I got older and became interested in the same things, he retired and finally did have the time to go back to working them again. The Hawken was finished about six years ago.
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