Page 7 - MFM Nov Dec 2021

Freemasons must He died weeks later in a Gastonia nursing home. By
the terms of his will, Toy's body was taken to Hollis
constantly strive Springs Methodist Church near Maysville, buried
to do that which is beside those of his mama and daddy and brother. A
handsome litt le wall was built, by terms of the will,
Good, and Just, and enclosing the graves of the complete family.

Honorable among The estate included the litt le house on W. 4th, the
men regardless of 1928 Ford roadster, two savings and loan accounts,
and some stocks.
the popular opinion
of the day. On Friday, it had been liquidated by the lawyer. He

had only two checks to write as dictated by Toy in his
will:
SLOWED BY PAIN
"SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE TREATMENT
He was a livelier fellow when he got back. Toy had OF CRIPPLED CHILDREN IN THE SHRINERS HOSPITAL,
bought a farm for his mother and father and sickly GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA."
brother. They'd never have to farm the shares again.
"SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE TREATMENT OF
Another decade or so passed, and Toy Voyle's steps CRIPPLED CHILDREN AT THE SCOTTISH RITE HOSPITAL,
were slower, painful, especially on bitt er cold and ATLANTA, GA."
rainy nights when he'd walk the tracks. When it was
dark, he'd get his crutch. Arthriti s gnawed at his hip. Toy R. Voyles
Maysville Lodge No. 347
He bought the house on W. 4th, paid cash. Moving in
was easy. He never had a cat or a dog, not even a bird. E.A. APRIL 11, 1924
He wouldn't buy or even watch T.V. In the late '50s, he F.C. APRIL 25, 1924
had to reti re, and he was on his crutch full ti me. M.M. MAY 9, 1924
EMERITUS AUGUST 10, 1964
"He piddled around his house all day, worked on his DIED JUNE 11, 1974
lawnmower and his yard, worked on that '28 Ford." A member 50 years, 1 month, and 2 days.
Willie Rhodes said. "I'd see him about every day. He
told me the man at the inspecti on stati on had laughed
and said, "Well, Mr. Voyles, I see you really traveled
last year, 85 miles!"

Toy tasted violence once. Three men knocked him off
his crutch and onto the sidewalk and stole $1,200 from
a pocket of the coveralls that had been his lifelong
uniform. Police had told him they knew who it was if
he could swear to their identi ty. Toy said he couldn't (EDITOR’S NOTE, the article above is a reprint of
swear to it because he didn't have a good look, and he a reprint. It was in MASONIC MESSENGER, the
was dizzy when his head hit the pavement. He never offi cial publication of the Grand Lodge of Georgia
carried much money again. F. & A.M., edited by W:.Brother Walter M. Callaway,
Jr., of Atlanta. The article was submitted by Bro. Phil
His mother and father and his brother died, and Pearce, Chamblee Lodge #444, Chamblee, GA.
Toy sold the farm. He got feebler and turned down
suggesti ons he could go live in a Masonic home or with This article is a reprint of a story by Mr. Kays Gary, a staff
nieces in Georgia. For four years, especially during a writer with the Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, N. C., and
March 1974 visit, Harrell Auten urged him to do that. appeared in their Sunday Edition on June 13th, 1976.
Three days aft er that visit, Willie Rhodes found mail
sti ll in Toy's mailbox. He found Toy, paralyzed, lying on
the fl oor. He'd been there for 72 hours.

Montana Freemason Page 7 Nov/Dec Volume 97 No.5