2/26/11 Cousin Joyce

On these pages I have referred to my favorite uncle. My Uncle Henry who lived across the street from us was a veteran of the United States Navy keeping the shores of Vero Beach, Florida safe from foreign invasion during World War II. Henry Meunier was a master at working on small engines. If you had a lawn mower or a chain saw that needed repair, he was the fellow to see. Uncle Henry taught me how to fish. He worked for a time at both Stoffel Seals and at American Thread Company. He smoked Lucky Strikes and from time to time would sneak a half-pint from behind his work bench in his shop and take a slug of it when he thought nobody was looking. Uncle Henry and Aunt Freddie would tell me to slow down on my bicycle and to make sure the baseball wasn't being thrown near "window lights" as many older Tallapoosans said back in the day. Henry Meunier loved that first cup of Red Diamond Coffee every morning. Aunt Freddie was neither a coffee or a tea drinker. I remember one of Aunt Freddie's birthdays when Uncle Henry bought her a coffee peculator knowing that it basically was for him. She smiled and chuckled at her husband that she loved unconditionally. Aunt Freddie was the biggest fan of Coca-Cola I ever met. She consumed about 6 a day. Aunt Freddie loved music. She watched the Lawrence Welk Show every Saturday night. On Sunday mornings she loved to see the Florida Boys, Hovie Lister and the Statesmen, the Happy Goodman Family and the beautiful Southern Gospel music on the Gospel Jubilee. She also loved the late Sunday afternoon program on WAGA television featuring Urias, Eva Mae, Pearce and Alphus LeFevre. The LeFevres were an Atlanta group that were pioneers in the music business owning their own music publishing company and their own record label. Eva Mae LeFevre played the piano, Pearce played the trumpet, Rex Nelon sang bass and their music made you feel good. I go to a Jiffy Lube in Cobb County because it is owned by Reece LeFevre, one of Urias and Eva Mae's grandsons. The LeFevres were Gospel music royalty. Aunt Freddie gave me a lot of encouragement to try my best in school. When I had a term paper to write, I'd go across the street where I'd borrow my cousin Joyce's Encyclopedia Brittanica. These days when kids have a assignment to write a paper, its done via Google. Joyce Meunier married Fred Owen from Cleburne County when I was about eight years old. He worked at Dixie Steel and rode a motorcycle. Fred and Joyce had two wonderful children Gloria and Ricky. Rick is retired from the U.S. Air Force having served a big stretch in Iceland and Greenland. Rick and his wife own a horse farm up in Polk County.First born Gloria died way too soon. She was a delightful human being. My cousin Joyce when in high school was a member of the Lash LaRue fan club. She had an autographed picture of the "king of the bull-whip." I had Lash LaRue on my radio show a number of times. At one time he was the number one box office attraction in the Southeastern. There is a book about him that is came out before he passed away in 1996. Lash LaRue taught Harrison Ford how to use the bull-whip in the Indiana Jones film franchise. Cousin Joyce was thrilled at the autograph I got for her of Lash LaRue. Joyce was the first of Mamanier's grandchildren to go to college. She went to Berry College and stayed on my case to make good grades so I could get into a college somewhere. When Fred and Joyce first got married they spent a time in our house in a side apartment. They built their home across the street from the house and next door to Uncle Henry and Aunt Freddie. Fred did most of the wiring, plumbing, and construction that built the house. Fred is truly a "jack of all trades" and he is the master of them too. Joyce had a great personality and she never met a stranger. When I'd get my heart broken she'd remind me that there were more fish in the sea and to get over it. Mary Joyce Meunier Owen left us in the early morning hours of February 17th. The last time I saw her was the day before Valentine's Day as she lay in pain in the hospital. She fought a long hard battle and I don't remember her in good health the past few years. I thought back of how it was Joyce who made me aware of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and Jerry Lee Lewis when I was a small boy. She and Fred welcomed me back to Tallapoosa in 2006 when the house on Rhubarb Lane was bought from the Hitchcock estate. Presley and Callie loved being around Joyce and Fred. It was tough breaking the news to them when they got home from school that day. They were comforted a bit when I reminded them Joyce was with her mother, daddy, and daughter and was in the arms of the Lord.