Love never seeks its own. The proverb cuts right to the quick of the matter. And so it was with Boyce Foreman. Lakeway residents are mourning his loss after he passed away on Christmas Eve after a short illness.
Boyce flew just under the public radar — but his presence was felt at the end of many selfless acts that benefitted his community, his family and his faith. He and his wife Glenda, who served on the city council for years, are exemplary of the selfless attitude that typifies the service-first attitude of so many Lakeway’s residents. Steady. Always there.
Together, they raised six children and doted on their many grandchildren in their 58 years of marriage.
I had covered the last two years of Glenda’s tenure on the city council, but I only came to know Boyce in the last year. His name kept coming up as the economy worsened and I became more aware of the social needs of the community.
To borrow a pop culture phrase, he had me at hello — he was that engaging. He shared stories and antidotes with an ease that completely captivated yours truly — and virtually everyone else that ever met him.
My personal favorite moment came when we were discussing the life of Monsignor Richard McCabe after he passed on. Boyce was animated, insightful and humorous. I hung on his every word…
As a Deacon with the Catholic Church, faith was front and center in his life. He was a man who clearly understood his priorities and worked tirelessly on behalf of the Emmaus Parish in Lakeway.
Emmaus Father Samuel Hose gives Forman’s job perspective.
“In the Catholic Church a man is ordained a deacon to be of service to the parish and to the community,” Father Hose said. “They are to be men of the people. Deacon Boyce Foreman was just that. Both in the parish and in the community he quietly went about doing good for others. He was one whose presence made a positive difference for so many in so many ways. Whether it was guiding couples as they prepared for marriage, helping new parents prepare for the baptisms of their children, visiting the sick, attending to elderly in nursing homes or providing presence in parish ministry and community affairs, Deacon Boyce Foreman was one who helped to build here in Lakeway a good and faithful community.”
Lakeway resident Jerry Hietpas had a personal reason for admiring Boyce’s ministry at Emmaus Parish.
“He helped many people find jobs,” Hietpas said. “He found a job for a lady who has been working for me for more than five years. It helps both of us.  He will be missed.”
Lakeway Mayor Dave DeOme pondered how to best describe Boyce.
“It is difficult to put together the right phrase to describe Boyce. Not to the people who knew him, but the people who did not,” DeOme reasoned. “He was a decent, kind and giving individual. The special guy who could be trusted to share your concerns and inner weaknesses without the risk of him being judgmental. The special friend who did not judge but shared and then supported.
“I will miss him. His friends will miss him. The Emmaus Church community and the Lakeway community will miss him,” DeOme noted.
The same themes emerge again and again as those who knew him recalled his many qualities.
“Boyce was an inspiration to all that knew him and a truly gracious and wonderful person,” said Dee Ann Burns-Farrell, who serves on the council. “Glenda and Boyce have always meant a great deal to me and the memory of Boyce will continue to bless us all as he did in life.”
Mankind was his business, and the fruit of his labor was evident.
“Boyce was a very gentle soul, who loved and helped all mankind,”  Shelly Ansbach said. “It was a real pleasure to know him.”
Time after time, Jackie Elliott would watch Boyce and Glenda in amazement.
“Boyce and Glenda dance wonderfully together,” Elliott observed. “He also dances wonderfully with his daughters, granddaughter, daughter-in-laws — Boyce danced through life — below the radar. I will miss watching them.”
Joann Anderson recalled his love of all things Cajun, noting he was a “champion crawfish eater and could out eat crawfish with anybody.”
“He would order several pounds, eat them and then ask for more,” Joann mused. “He would eat only crawfish and you couldn’t even carry on a conversation when he was eating his crawfish as he would always be focused on his crawfish.”
The Foreman’s warm and loving relationship was on evidence during the Sing Along’s spring show, Glenda sang “Going to the Chapel — Gonna Get Married.”
“Boyce surprised her on stage by walking on stage and appearing at her side and when she turned around and saw him, she almost passed out,” Anderson said. “A good laugh by everybody in the audience.”
Anderson also noted that Boyce was an avid fisherman, and led me to his fishing buddy, Charles Tartella.
“The only times I ever saw Boyce Foreman dejected was when it rained or there was a high wind. The reason for these two rejections was because they prevented Boyce and myself from going fishing on Lake Travis on Thursday mornings.
“I don’t know which he enjoyed most, eating the fish we caught, or the act of catching them,” Tartella said. “We had a two man operation. When one of us saw that the other guy’s rod tip dipped severally signifying that there was a large fish at the end of the line, then the person that had nothing on the end of his line would then put his rod down and grab the fishing net and place it vertically into the water alongside the boat. So hopefully the big fish would swim into the net securing the catch.
“If you ever saw a young child opening up a package that has an unknown toy inside, the glee that would immediately appear on the face of Boyce when he felt the heavy weight of a big fish on his line, would be very similar to that joy that was expressed by the child,” Tartella continued.
Tartella said Boyce was a perfect fishing partner was because he enjoyed it so much and looked forward to their weekly fishing trips.
“I personally enjoyed his company as I found him to be very knowledgeable on many subjects,” Tartella said. “We soon grew into a close relationship that I am going to miss greatly.”
There is a warmth that accompanies Boyce, regardless of who one speaks with.
“Boyce was my friend and I always admired his quiet faith,” said Jon Champeny. “He had a great sense of humor. Being a Protestant I always asked Boyce to give me dispensation. He never failed to say that was not in his capability but he could give blessing. I do feel blessed to have had Boyce as a friend. He will be sorely missed by all of us.”
Peggy Moraczewski, the Volunteer Development Coordinator Emmaus Catholic Parish, saw Boyce daily. Her comments completely captured his essence.
“When he arrived at work, he’d walk in and always greet me with a smile and, ‘How is Miss Peggy this morning?’ He was humble, kind and welcoming to everyone he met.
“Last Christmas, we were putting together gift baskets for some people in the parish who were enduring hardships, and we collected many thoughtful gifts. However, Deacon Boyce’s gift was the most generous of all…it was the gift of his time. For the entire year, he quietly visited this person every week,” Moraczewski said.
“Deacon Boyce had a beautiful voice for proclaiming the Gospel and readings at Mass. He spoke from the heart.”
Moraczewski found herself in awe of his steady, patient way.
“I loved the way he and Glenda loved each other,” Moraczewski added. “It would especially touch my heart to see them walking to the car after mass, hand in hand, smiling and chatting away. This precious gift of love after 50-plus years of marriage. I think he would do anything for Glenda.”
Moraczewski punctuated her comments perfectly.
“Mostly, I will miss his smile…”
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Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails…
And that’s what Boyce Foreman understood…