Steve and Margie Hayes could never stop talking about their favorite grandson, DeWayne Taylor, so most of us know all about him. But what about Karen? The following story shows how America attracts the best and the brightest from around the world!
DeWayne met his lovely
wife, then Karen Boshoff,
through a mutual friend. DeWayne will forever be grateful to Scott Ney
who introduced them while they were students at North Carolina State
University. Both DeWayne and Karen graduated from NC State with B.S. degrees in
Civil Engineering. DeWayne graduated in 1994 and Karen a year later in 1995.
Karen also received a B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering in 1997.
They were married on May
19, 2001 in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was a happy day for members of both
families. Many of us were hoping for children by the next year!
However, a career change
had to come first. Understand that DeWayne spent his entire time at NC
State getting a Civil Engineering degree, and then worked as a roadway design
engineer for seven years while earning his professional engineering
license. Can you imagine what his parents, Linda and Donnie, must have
thought when DeWayne announced he wanted to change careers? Karen supported
DeWayne when he enrolled at the Dental School at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall of 2001. He graduated in the spring
of 2005.
Finally, much to the delight of parents on both sides of the family, time for children. Their first son, Jacob Hayes Taylor, was born on March 25, 2005. Their second son, Jonathan Henry Taylor, was born on September 14, 2006. DeWayne opened his own dental practice, Taylor Family Dentistry, a year later on October 22, 2007.
Finally, much to the delight of parents on both sides of the family, time for children. Their first son, Jacob Hayes Taylor, was born on March 25, 2005. Their second son, Jonathan Henry Taylor, was born on September 14, 2006. DeWayne opened his own dental practice, Taylor Family Dentistry, a year later on October 22, 2007.
After Jacob arrived, the
timing was perfect for Karen to leave her position at the NC Department of
Transportation to be a devoted mom. But
being a modern woman, she could do it all. She went back to work on a part time basis for a consultant engineering
firm URS, now called AECOM in June 2009. She is still bringing in cash for her family working part time for AECOM.
Karen’s extra income may be useful if either of the boys are like their dad and
want to change careers someday…
Okay, so it is obvious that Karen is highly intelligent, lovely, talented, a great wife, and a wonderful mom! So what about her background and family? Her father is Burrie van Dyk Boshoff. He was born in Middelburg, South Africa on December 18, 1937. Her mom is Susara "Sue" Maria Elizabeth (Skinner) Boshoff. She is some two years younger than Burrie being born on January 6, 1940 in Pretoria, South Africa. They both received degrees from the University of Pretoria and were married on February 13, 1965 in the city of Pretoria.
Shortly after they were married, Burrie and Sue moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. He had been accepted to do his post graduate studies in Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University.
Okay, so it is obvious that Karen is highly intelligent, lovely, talented, a great wife, and a wonderful mom! So what about her background and family? Her father is Burrie van Dyk Boshoff. He was born in Middelburg, South Africa on December 18, 1937. Her mom is Susara "Sue" Maria Elizabeth (Skinner) Boshoff. She is some two years younger than Burrie being born on January 6, 1940 in Pretoria, South Africa. They both received degrees from the University of Pretoria and were married on February 13, 1965 in the city of Pretoria.
Shortly after they were married, Burrie and Sue moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. He had been accepted to do his post graduate studies in Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University.
Both Karen’s brothers
were born in Raleigh while her parents lived in the married student quarters at
NC State called McKimmon Village. Christoph
Hein Boshoff was
born on May 4, 1967, and Alton Louis Boshoff was born on
August 27, 1968. Both sons were
delivered in the old Rex hospital in downtown Raleigh. Being born in the United
States, they were automatically citizens of the United States.
The family moved back to Pretoria, South Africa after Burrie received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering in 1969 from NC State. Karen’s sister, Marelise, was born on July 28, 1970 in Pretoria a year after they returned. Karen was born there two and a half years later on January 25, 1973. She was raised in South Africa until she was almost 15 years old when the family immigrated to the United Stated at the end of 1987.
So, how did the family get back to America so Karen could meet DeWayne? First, in 1974, Burrie was given an opportunity to work on a research project at the University of Illinois in Champagne, Urbana. He uprooted his wife, his two young sons, a two year old and newborn Karen and moved them back to America for six months. At the end of the research project, the family packed up and returned to South Africa. Karen’s mom Sue is one understanding, supportive and flexible woman!
The family was comfortable and well established in South Africa. However, even after living there for over thirteen years, the pull of America remained strong. After Karen’s brothers graduated high school in South Africa, both decided to attend college at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. Entry into the United States was no problem for them. Remember that both were American citizens by birth. However, their being in Louisiana separated the family members by more than 8,000 miles.
Fortuitously, shortly after Karen’s brothers left for college, Burrie was offered a permanent position at a private company in the USA. Burrie, Sue, Marelise and the future mother of Jacob and Jonathan officially immigrated to America. They arrived in New York City on December 1, 1987.
The family was reunited for a year in Ruston, Louisiana until Burrie, Sue, Marelise and Karen moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. They arrived over Thanksgiving weekend on November 27, 1988. Memorably, they were welcomed back by a deadly tornado that ripped through Raleigh the night after they arrived. They were fortunately not in the path of the tornado, but received many phone calls the next morning from concerned family and friends.
Karen, her parents, and her sister Marelise, became naturalized citizens of the United States of America in April, 1993. It has been almost 30 years since Burrie and Sue arrive in on New York with their two daughters in tow. Remarkably, they still live in Raleigh, North Carolina within two miles of all four of their children and ten grandchildren ranging in age from five to twenty-three. As his grandfather Steve Hayes would say, “DeWayne did GOOD!” the day he met Karen Boshoff.
The family moved back to Pretoria, South Africa after Burrie received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering in 1969 from NC State. Karen’s sister, Marelise, was born on July 28, 1970 in Pretoria a year after they returned. Karen was born there two and a half years later on January 25, 1973. She was raised in South Africa until she was almost 15 years old when the family immigrated to the United Stated at the end of 1987.
So, how did the family get back to America so Karen could meet DeWayne? First, in 1974, Burrie was given an opportunity to work on a research project at the University of Illinois in Champagne, Urbana. He uprooted his wife, his two young sons, a two year old and newborn Karen and moved them back to America for six months. At the end of the research project, the family packed up and returned to South Africa. Karen’s mom Sue is one understanding, supportive and flexible woman!
The family was comfortable and well established in South Africa. However, even after living there for over thirteen years, the pull of America remained strong. After Karen’s brothers graduated high school in South Africa, both decided to attend college at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. Entry into the United States was no problem for them. Remember that both were American citizens by birth. However, their being in Louisiana separated the family members by more than 8,000 miles.
Fortuitously, shortly after Karen’s brothers left for college, Burrie was offered a permanent position at a private company in the USA. Burrie, Sue, Marelise and the future mother of Jacob and Jonathan officially immigrated to America. They arrived in New York City on December 1, 1987.
The family was reunited for a year in Ruston, Louisiana until Burrie, Sue, Marelise and Karen moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. They arrived over Thanksgiving weekend on November 27, 1988. Memorably, they were welcomed back by a deadly tornado that ripped through Raleigh the night after they arrived. They were fortunately not in the path of the tornado, but received many phone calls the next morning from concerned family and friends.
Karen, her parents, and her sister Marelise, became naturalized citizens of the United States of America in April, 1993. It has been almost 30 years since Burrie and Sue arrive in on New York with their two daughters in tow. Remarkably, they still live in Raleigh, North Carolina within two miles of all four of their children and ten grandchildren ranging in age from five to twenty-three. As his grandfather Steve Hayes would say, “DeWayne did GOOD!” the day he met Karen Boshoff.
Burrie, Sue, Karen, Marelise, Alton and Christoph
Out of South Africa.
Lucky for DeWayne and all of us!
Lucky for DeWayne and all of us!
(Information as of August 2017)
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