Cecil Perry Boaz, Jr.

Cecil P. Boaz, Jr. left this world the same way he entered it – at home, surrounded by the love of his family and God's love on Tuesday, July 27, 2010. Cecil was a humble man who let his achievements speak for him. He was born November 2, 1924, on the family farm in Ramsey, Illinois, and worked locally until his graduation from a one-room rural school. Cecil joined the Army Signal Corps during World War II, and served in the Philippines and the jungles of Papua, New Guinea. After the end of the war, he took advantage of the GI Bill and began studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois. After a chance meeting with army buddy, Ragnar Barnas, arrangements were made for Cecil to go on a blind date with Ragnar's sister-in-law, Isabel Simpson. Ragnar and his wife, Margaret Simpson Barnas, watched love bloom on that first date, and six months later Cecil and Isabel were married. The grand plan of raising cocker spaniels to supplement their income during college was abandoned upon the birth of their son, Stephen. After graduation, Cecil began his 41 year career with Bell Telephone and moved to Dallas, Texas, where he and Isabel welcomed the birth of Mary Claire in 1952 and another son, Michael Kent in 1954. One of the great tragedies of his life was the death of Michael at the age of 2 due to a congenital defect. His professional skill and work ethic were quickly noticed, and he began climbing up the executive ladder with various telephone company entities, moving frequently until settling in Little Rock in 1964. During this time, he was "loaned" to NASA and helped develop the communication system for Project Mercury – proving that he was, indeed, made of "The Right Stuff." Cecil was also a member of the team that developed "One Touch Dialing." He was always active within the company and was a Lifetime Member of the Telephone Pioneers. Cecil's second great tragedy was the death of Isabel in 1972, following a courageous battle with cancer. Cecil later met and married Margaret Herrod, a fellow phone company employee. After Cecil and Margaret retired in 1984, they were able to travel extensively and enjoy time with their grandchildren until Margaret's sudden death in 2004. One of Cecil's greatest joys was spending time with "The Boys" – his three grandsons and more recently his great grandson. Michael Gaiser and his son Aiden Gaiser, both of Little Rock; Matthew Boaz of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Andrew Boaz, of Fort Worth, Texas. Cecil was a man of great faith and was a great contributor of his time, talent and treasure in the church community. In Little Rock, he was a member of First Christian Church and Fellowship Bible Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher and a Young Life volunteer. Cecil was preceded in death by Isabel (Simpson) Boaz; Margaret (Herrod) Boaz; his parents, Cecil P. (Joe) Boaz and Madie (Timmons) Boaz; his sister, Lovetta Augenstein; and his son, Michael Kent Boaz. He is remembered as "Cecil, Dad, and Papa" by his family. Cecil is survived by his daughter, Mary Claire Boaz, of Little Rock; his son, Stephen Boaz and wife, Karen, of Edmond, Oklahoma; three grandsons and one great-grandson. Other family members include Jesse and Noel Augenstein, Geaneen Sowa (Stan), Jerri Brown (Bob), Ragnar and Margaret Barnas, Ann Holmberg (Bob), and Joan Nichols (Greg). His family of caregivers includes Eva Judware, Tanya Lay, and Sarah Spalding. A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church, 1500 N. Mississippi, at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, July 31, 2010. There will be a private graveside service for the family. Arrangements are with Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, (501) 224-8300. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the University of Arkansas Foundation benefiting the Mano Boaz Scholarship, UALR Office of Development, 2801 S. University, Little Rock, Ark. 72204. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.