My Mom told me that when Buzzy was in the Air Force he took some sort of career aptitude test that he said revealed that he should have become a priest. Mom thought that he was kidding her but he always maintained that it was the truth. She said that after Buzzy received that “diagnosis” whenever they would have an involved argument he would say “I knew I should have become a priest.” (Unsaid I guess was that he knew he shouldn’t have married Mom.)
I found this old photo of Buzzy in Halloween mode dressed as a priest. In his collar and such, he resembled then St. Michael’s Pastor Father McGary:
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| Father McGary and Buzzy Circa 1960 |
After too many unresolved arguments, Mom and Dad eventually divorced in the late 70’s. Mom stayed in the house on Curley Road but Buzzy moved into an apartment behind the Store and thus began pursuit of his “true” calling.
A single man again, Buzzy became a priest of sorts in his own way. He lived a humble, quasi-monastic life in his rectory/apartment behind Buzzy’s Country Church Store. In the Store, he served his congregation of sinners and saints who joined him for daily and weekly rituals and services. In the Store he also served as Pope, confessor and counselor offering advice and assistance to his followers as needed. To formalize his status, Buzzy eventually became an ordained minister.
I found this old photo of Buzzy performing a wedding ceremony in the Store. (I have discussed his performing these wedding ceremonies previously (click here.)) Look closely at the upper left hand corner of the photo and you’ll see his Universal Life Church certificate being prominently displayed.
I recently found that document certifying that Buzzy became an ordained minister in 1980.
I googled Universal Life Church and discovered that they are a legit operation founded by Kirby Hensley in the 50’s. If you look closely at the bottom of the above form you will see that it was Hensley who signed Buzzy’s certification.)
Thus, if Buzzy did have some priest fixation or secret wish to be one, I guess you can say that in his own way he attained that. Father Buzzy, may you rest in peace.
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| At Least He Didn’t Request “Wanna Be Priest” Inscribed on His Tombstone |
Another great Coke commercial: