TICE, JR., Floyd (Boonie) P.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 06/28/2013 Floyd “Boonie” P. Tice Jr., 77, died Thursday, June 20, 2013, in St. Johns. He was born July 26, 1935, in Steubenville, Ohio, the son of Floyd Paul Sr. and Fannie Belle Stevens Tice. Floyd “Boonie” Tice was a very unique man. He fought numerous ailments: cancer, diabetes, congestive heart failure, back surgery and two knee replacements. Nothing, it seemed, could keep him down. He made his way west in the mid-‘70s from his birthplace in Ohio. He was a longtime employee of various power companies and steel mills. Boonie retired from SRP in 1994 and continued to work after retirement at the Springerville Generating Station for TEP. His main pastime was “doing his own thing and being left alone.” He enjoyed his home on the hill with his beloved companion, Fester the dog. Many, many hours he spent making sure nothing was wrong with his cars, trucks, tractors, chain saws, weed eaters and lawn mowers. His dry sarcasm and sense of humor will be greatly missed. He lived his life on his terms; not life in the mainstream. His bark was worse than his bite; a compassionate, gentle man who was always there when a friend was down — suffering tragedy or loss. A husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, Boonie did it his way, because there was no other way for him. “All of us, your close circle of friends and family, will miss you, dear friend, and trust that we will see you again. May God grant you eternal rest and peace.” Boonie is survived by his daughter Jorjanna N. VanSteenberg and stepdaughter Tracy Smith, both of Toronto, Ohio; brother Delbert Tice; sisters: Louise Potts, Shirley Brown and Jan Harper; and four grandchildren: Emily, Maxwell, Shane and Emma Jane. He was preceded in death quite unexpectedly by his longtime friend Richard Bilberry (February 2013), with whom he would argue with, just for the sake of arguing. Boonie’s request was that his ashes be spread in and around St. Johns; a place he lived and loved. No services will be held, also at his request. Burnham Mortuary of St. Johns handled arrangements. Send an online condolence at www.burnhammortuary.com.