I grew up in Camas, Washington, the hometown of Jimmie Rodgers. My parents, Wes and Doris Armstrong, knew Jimmie and his brother Archie. While a youngster, I recall vividly the handmade wooden sign made by Jimmie's father that hung over the front porch of the simple Rodgers home in Forest Home, which read "Honeycomb." Jimmie's parents are buried in the Camas Cemetery, and their headstone is located very close by to where my grandparents are also buried. A few years ago, I
travelled from California to Camas to attend a book-signing event for Jimmie at a shop in downtown Camas. My father, brother, sister and sister-in-law were also in attendance and we had our picture taken with Jimmie while he autographed the books we purchased. I asked him at the time about that wooden "Honeycomb" sign, and he informed us that he had it at his home in Palm Springs. Later that evening, we were pleased to sit in the front row of a local church downtown where Jimmie performed a concert. When my mother passed away in 2010, "Honeycomb" was played at her funeral in Camas. When my father goes, it will be played at his, and it is one of the musical numbers that I have indicated I want played at my memorial service when the time comes.
A couple of years ago, I recall reading an interview with Bob Dylan that appeared in the AARP Magazine. In it, Dylan complimented Jimmie for being an artist who "could do it all" when it came to signing. That is high praise coming from one of music's living legends.
Thank you, Jimmie, for the gift of music that you gave to so many people all over the world. May God bless and comfort your family during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Thom M. Armstrong
Claremont, California
Thom M. Armstrong
Acquaintance