Hezekiah Rugh Boggs

Hezekiah Rugh Boggs, age 92, went to sing at his Heavenly Home on November 5, 2020, from his earthly home in Hahira, GA.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Karen Wolff Norris Boggs, his twin daughters, Patty Yaconis (Dan), Fishers, IN, Anita Bornman (Ed), Orlando, FL, Ray Boggs (Cindy), Mt. Dora, FL. Eight grand children: Nichole Mathews (Josh), Fishers, IN, Technical Sgt. David Yaconis (Kerri), Box Elder, SD, Jana Bornman, Orlando, FL, Kristen Anderson (Eric), Orlando, FL, Katrina Dial, Middletown, IN, Angela Armstrong (Aaron), La Junta, CO, Chris Boggs (Raychel), Canton, PA, Nathaniel Bowling (Amanda), Eustis, FL; two great grand daughters, four great grandsons, and five step- great grandkids.

He was preceded in death by his parents Rand and Bessie Back Boggs, seven brothers and two sisters, his oldest son, Dennis Boggs, his children’s mothers Jean Combs Boggs, and Rose Marie Bruning Boggs, and his former wife, Mary Lois Sewell Boggs.

Hezekiah “Rugh” Boggs was born at home on January 17, 1928 in Noctor, Breathitt County, Kentucky. He lived at 8th and plum – eight miles out of Jackson and plum up in the head of Lick Branch Holler. Rugh was the next to the youngest of 10 children.

He was in the Army from 1950 to 1952, and after returning from Korea, he played and sang music in night clubs around Dayton, Ohio, while working at General Motors Delco Products. In 1967, Rugh decided to retire from the night clubs, and this concluded 21 years of singing and playing country music in the Dayton area.

In 1975, he became a Christian and followed his mom's advice to start singing “Peace in the Valley.” While still living in Ohio, Rugh wrote the words to two songs: his testimony song – “He Touched Me in the Night,” and his motto for life – “Never Ending Work to Do.”

After working for GM for 31 years, Rugh retired in March 1977 and moved to Hahira, Georgia with his wife, Mary Sewell Boggs, his son, Ray, and her son, Jeff Sewell. Shortly after that, in July 1980, his wife died at South Georgia Medical Center.

In July 1980, God was about to open doors for two people who were dedicated to serving the Lord with their musical talents. One (Rugh) needed a piano player – the other, (Karen Wolff Norris), who had become a widow in April, was praying to God to have her very own soloist to accompany and to sing back-up vocals. They knew God had brought them together to sing for Him. They married and spent the next 40 yrs. singing and playing music all over the USA in campgrounds and churches. Together, Rugh and Karen made six Gospel CD's and four Country CD's in Nashville, Tennessee, at Gary “Sarge” Gistinger's studio. Sarge and his wife, Lois, became family to Rugh and Karen, and Rugh considered Sarge as one of his sons.

Rugh knew over 3,000 country and western songs by heart, always knowing what key he sung them in, and he was able to play the guitar in any key. He yodeled, sang train songs, and sang anything from Elvis backwards to Jimmie Rodgers. Since he knew, and sang, almost all of the songs of various artists, he was called “The Versatile.” He was known as one of the best rhythm guitar players – in the style of Hank Williams, Sr.

For 20 years, Rugh and Karen traveled throughout the United States performing concerts at campgrounds and in churches. In 2003, Rugh decided to give up traveling and they started performing concerts in a garage he turned into a music hall in his backyard. Rugh thoroughly enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives with concerts held in the “Boggs Music Hall.” God has blessed us with so many people who have helped us in our ministry. To each we say “thank you and God bless you.”

Over the years, Rugh received numerous awards for his musical talent and was honored by many music organizations. On October 31st of this year, he and Karen were both inducted into the Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame. The BEST honor happened on Thursday, November 5, 2020, when Rugh went to his heavenly home to sing and hear his Savior say, “Well Done.” Rugh said, “He heard a train a comin” (not a local train). It must have been a heavenly train comin' forth to carry him Home!

There will be a family graveside service at the Linary Cemetery in Crossville, Tennessee. A memorial service will be held later at the Boggs Music Hall. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Martin McLane Funeral Home of Hahira.