RUSK LIBRARY STUDY CLUB NEWS
Christmas dinner enjoyed; Boots Burfoot tells her life story
BY BETTY TOWNSEND

The December 13 meeting consisted of the annual Christmas dinner and was held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rusk. The delicious traditional food was prepared and served by church members and was enjoyed by 16 club members and several visitors.

The Library Study Club met Tuesday, Jan. 8 in the fellowship hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Rusk. Following the reading in unison of the club collect, Boots Burfoot, the presenter for this month, began her story, "This is My Life--Until Now."

Mrs. Burfoot was born in Roanoke, Va. Named Elizabeth Wilson, she was the second of eight children. She said she had always been called "Boots" and does not know the origin of the nickname. She and her siblings enjoyed many of the simple games of the era, long before the computer games, Ipods, colorful plastics toys and television of today.

When Boots was 10 the family moved to a farm complete with cows, sheep and horses, which they enjoyed riding. One of the main crops was apples from a large orchard. One year the fruit was so plentiful they were sold for 25 cents a bushel. The next year a hailstorm ruined the entire crop, resulting in their loss of the farm.

Church affiliation was always a very important part of her life and Boots told of her early school years spent in an Episcopal school. She and four siblings enjoyed a routine curriculum, but also studied French for two years.

Boots graduated from high school in Williamsburg, Va. and went to college, earning degrees in chemistry and education from the University of Virginia.

She was employed for several years before meeting and marrying Charles Burfoot. The couple moved to Fort Worth where he worked with an engineering consulting firm. Their next home was in Wills Point where they built a house and Boots enjoyed being a homemaker and mom to a son and three daughters.

Charley's work then took them to Homer, La. where they became members of the Presbyterian Church and Boots worked as secretary.

During the years from 1981-84, the Burfoots had the very interesting experience of living in Bangladesh, where Charley worked with a team bringing electricity to that country. When the job was finished they returned to the U.S. to a daughter's home in Bedford Tex., not knowing what their future had in store. Charley interviewed with the electric co-op in Rusk, was accepted for employment, and they have been residents here ever since. Boots and Charley are members of several organizations and Boots is secretary of the Presbyterian Church. They both stay busy with volunteer work.

Mrs. Burfoot closed by saying they both love Rusk and have been very happy here.

A short business meeting followed and Melva Hermes gave the inspirational devotional.