EDWARD JOSEPH BOUSSON JR, 81, dearly loved husband and father, affectionately called ‘Pappaw' by his nine grand and seven great grandchildren, passed away July 22 following a short illness.
He lived a full life of devotion to family and music; sharing his rich, tenor voice and musical gifts throughout the Memphis area for nearly 60 years. ‘Mr. Boo', as he was known to hundreds of music and theatre students, taught at Tech and Kingsbury High Schools.
He often said he knew from the beginning he wanted to sing for a living. Ed earned his undergraduate degree from Memphis State University. After completing his Masters in Music at LSU in Baton Rouge, he auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera. He later landed a spot to sing on the Arthur Godfrey Radio Show. While performing at Memphis Open Air Theatre, he met and married his ‘dance partner', Joyce Small. He performed with Memphis Opera Theatre and was lead tenor in shows like La Traviata and Madame Butterfly. A much sought after vocalist for fundraisers, rallies and special events, he performed for President Richard Nixon and at the dedication of St. Jude, singing ‘Danny Boy' for founder Danny Thomas. For a number of years, Ed was also a weekly performer on the WREC ‘Good Morning Memphis' television program.
He served in Korea as part of the 304th Signal Battalion with the U.S. Army. Always civic minded, Ed was involved with several non-profit organizations and was elected to two terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives. For 31 years, he served the Memphis School System as a teacher and assistant principal.
After retirement, not yet ready to stop, Ed continued his music career and also worked as a billing agent for FedEx for seven more years. He was also a past President of the Memphis Area Retired Teachers Association.
Since the age of 24, he was song director for several churches, and until knee replacement surgery a few months ago, led the singing at Macon Road Church of Christ.
At the age of 70, working with one of his students, pianist David Troy Francis, he went to Hollywood to record his first professional CD, titled ‘Splendored Things', a story of love songs featuring classics, ‘Til There Was You,' ‘Over the Rainbow', ‘If Ever I Would Leave You' and ‘You'll Never Walk Alone'.
Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Joyce; and their five sons: Eddie (Julie); Mark (Tracey), Jeff (Kathy), Danny (Chyrel) and Brent.
Burial at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Germantown Rd.
Published in The Commercial Appeal on July 25, 2012
CLICK HERE FOR MEMORIALS OF OTHER 1948 CLASS MEMBERS.
CLICK HERE FOR MEMORIALS OF OTHER MEMPHIS TECH TEACHERS.
He lived a full life of devotion to family and music; sharing his rich, tenor voice and musical gifts throughout the Memphis area for nearly 60 years. ‘Mr. Boo', as he was known to hundreds of music and theatre students, taught at Tech and Kingsbury High Schools.
He often said he knew from the beginning he wanted to sing for a living. Ed earned his undergraduate degree from Memphis State University. After completing his Masters in Music at LSU in Baton Rouge, he auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera. He later landed a spot to sing on the Arthur Godfrey Radio Show. While performing at Memphis Open Air Theatre, he met and married his ‘dance partner', Joyce Small. He performed with Memphis Opera Theatre and was lead tenor in shows like La Traviata and Madame Butterfly. A much sought after vocalist for fundraisers, rallies and special events, he performed for President Richard Nixon and at the dedication of St. Jude, singing ‘Danny Boy' for founder Danny Thomas. For a number of years, Ed was also a weekly performer on the WREC ‘Good Morning Memphis' television program.
He served in Korea as part of the 304th Signal Battalion with the U.S. Army. Always civic minded, Ed was involved with several non-profit organizations and was elected to two terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives. For 31 years, he served the Memphis School System as a teacher and assistant principal.
After retirement, not yet ready to stop, Ed continued his music career and also worked as a billing agent for FedEx for seven more years. He was also a past President of the Memphis Area Retired Teachers Association.
Since the age of 24, he was song director for several churches, and until knee replacement surgery a few months ago, led the singing at Macon Road Church of Christ.
At the age of 70, working with one of his students, pianist David Troy Francis, he went to Hollywood to record his first professional CD, titled ‘Splendored Things', a story of love songs featuring classics, ‘Til There Was You,' ‘Over the Rainbow', ‘If Ever I Would Leave You' and ‘You'll Never Walk Alone'.
Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Joyce; and their five sons: Eddie (Julie); Mark (Tracey), Jeff (Kathy), Danny (Chyrel) and Brent.
Burial at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Germantown Rd.
Published in The Commercial Appeal on July 25, 2012
CLICK HERE FOR MEMORIALS OF OTHER 1948 CLASS MEMBERS.
CLICK HERE FOR MEMORIALS OF OTHER MEMPHIS TECH TEACHERS.
EDWARD JOSEPH BOUSSON JR, 81, dearly loved husband and father, affectionately called ‘Pappaw' by his nine grand and seven great grandchildren, passed away July 22 following a short illness.
He lived a full life of devotion to family and music; sharing his rich, tenor voice and musical gifts throughout the Memphis area for nearly 60 years. ‘Mr. Boo', as he was known to hundreds of music and theatre students, taught at Tech and Kingsbury High Schools.
He often said he knew from the beginning he wanted to sing for a living. Ed earned his undergraduate degree from Memphis State University. After completing his Masters in Music at LSU in Baton Rouge, he auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera. He later landed a spot to sing on the Arthur Godfrey Radio Show. While performing at Memphis Open Air Theatre, he met and married his ‘dance partner', Joyce Small. He performed with Memphis Opera Theatre and was lead tenor in shows like La Traviata and Madame Butterfly. A much sought after vocalist for fundraisers, rallies and special events, he performed for President Richard Nixon and at the dedication of St. Jude, singing ‘Danny Boy' for founder Danny Thomas. For a number of years, Ed was also a weekly performer on the WREC ‘Good Morning Memphis' television program.
He served in Korea as part of the 304th Signal Battalion with the U.S. Army. Always civic minded, Ed was involved with several non-profit organizations and was elected to two terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives. For 31 years, he served the Memphis School System as a teacher and assistant principal.
After retirement, not yet ready to stop, Ed continued his music career and also worked as a billing agent for FedEx for seven more years. He was also a past President of the Memphis Area Retired Teachers Association.
Since the age of 24, he was song director for several churches, and until knee replacement surgery a few months ago, led the singing at Macon Road Church of Christ.
At the age of 70, working with one of his students, pianist David Troy Francis, he went to Hollywood to record his first professional CD, titled ‘Splendored Things', a story of love songs featuring classics, ‘Til There Was You,' ‘Over the Rainbow', ‘If Ever I Would Leave You' and ‘You'll Never Walk Alone'.
Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Joyce; and their five sons: Eddie (Julie); Mark (Tracey), Jeff (Kathy), Danny (Chyrel) and Brent.
Burial at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Germantown Rd.
Published in The Commercial Appeal on July 25, 2012
CLICK HERE FOR MEMORIALS OF OTHER 1948 CLASS MEMBERS.
CLICK HERE FOR MEMORIALS OF OTHER MEMPHIS TECH TEACHERS.
He lived a full life of devotion to family and music; sharing his rich, tenor voice and musical gifts throughout the Memphis area for nearly 60 years. ‘Mr. Boo', as he was known to hundreds of music and theatre students, taught at Tech and Kingsbury High Schools.
He often said he knew from the beginning he wanted to sing for a living. Ed earned his undergraduate degree from Memphis State University. After completing his Masters in Music at LSU in Baton Rouge, he auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera. He later landed a spot to sing on the Arthur Godfrey Radio Show. While performing at Memphis Open Air Theatre, he met and married his ‘dance partner', Joyce Small. He performed with Memphis Opera Theatre and was lead tenor in shows like La Traviata and Madame Butterfly. A much sought after vocalist for fundraisers, rallies and special events, he performed for President Richard Nixon and at the dedication of St. Jude, singing ‘Danny Boy' for founder Danny Thomas. For a number of years, Ed was also a weekly performer on the WREC ‘Good Morning Memphis' television program.
He served in Korea as part of the 304th Signal Battalion with the U.S. Army. Always civic minded, Ed was involved with several non-profit organizations and was elected to two terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives. For 31 years, he served the Memphis School System as a teacher and assistant principal.
After retirement, not yet ready to stop, Ed continued his music career and also worked as a billing agent for FedEx for seven more years. He was also a past President of the Memphis Area Retired Teachers Association.
Since the age of 24, he was song director for several churches, and until knee replacement surgery a few months ago, led the singing at Macon Road Church of Christ.
At the age of 70, working with one of his students, pianist David Troy Francis, he went to Hollywood to record his first professional CD, titled ‘Splendored Things', a story of love songs featuring classics, ‘Til There Was You,' ‘Over the Rainbow', ‘If Ever I Would Leave You' and ‘You'll Never Walk Alone'.
Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Joyce; and their five sons: Eddie (Julie); Mark (Tracey), Jeff (Kathy), Danny (Chyrel) and Brent.
Burial at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Germantown Rd.
Published in The Commercial Appeal on July 25, 2012
CLICK HERE FOR MEMORIALS OF OTHER 1948 CLASS MEMBERS.
CLICK HERE FOR MEMORIALS OF OTHER MEMPHIS TECH TEACHERS.
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