Vivian Boyd
1906-1995
submitted by: Vivian Goodman
 


   As a young man, he injured his leg near the ankle playing basketball (he played Basketball at the high school) and osteomeyolitis set in.  He had to go to the Mayo Clinic in MN for surgery and treatment.  His mother went with him but had to leave him there after surgery to take care of the rest of the family at home.  He stayed in MN for several weeks. For years he had recurring swelling and drainage problems with the leg.
 
He had familial tremors (his hands shook at all times).  This was very hard on him as he worked with his hands as a hobby, building different things.  He would have to build frames for what he was working on so that it would not move while he was building or repairing.
 
 He was employed at a local bank in Sweetwater for awhile after marriage.  Then went to work for the Gulf Oil Corporation there.  He and his wife and daughters lived on a farm east of Sweetwater (part of the home place which he had purchased from his mother) where he farmed and raised cattle along with working for Gulf.  In 1954 Gulf closed operations in Sweetwater and he along with many of the employees who chose to go, were transferred to Port Arthur, TX to the refinery there.  He retired from Gulf in 1972 after 37 years.
 
He enjoyed astronomy & archeology among other things.  He used to sit on the porch with us when we were young and discuss and show us the constellations.  He plotted the time for the satellites to come over to the second and was never wrong.  And this was before calculators!
 
For Shirley's senior prom, he helped mother make her prom dress.  He made the circular pattern for the skirt and mother cut and sewed it.  He worked with his hands creating beautiful lamps and other furniture during his lifetime.  He built equipment used to help his shaky hands from making mistakes during his woodworking so that his measurements would be correct. 
 
He was very dear and loving with both of his girls.  As far as we were concerned he could do no wrong-vag.
 
______________________________


Obituary - 1995

Vivian Boyd, 88, of Sweetwater died Thursday in Holiday Retirement Center.

Grave side Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Sweetwater Cemetery with Bob Dupont officiating.  Arrangements are by Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

         Mr. Boyd was born Sept. 15, 1906 in Nolan County and married Ruby McElroy on June 12, 1929 in Sweetwater.  A retiree from Gulf Oil, he began his employment with the firm in Nolan County in 1935.  He was transferred to Port Arthur in 1954, and retired there in 1972.  After his retirement, Mr. and Mrs Boyd lived in Livingston before moving back to Sweetwater in 1983.

        He was a member of the Church of Christ.

        Survivors include his wife Ruby Boyd of Sweetwater; a daughter, Vivian Goodman of Conroe; two sisters, Iona Adams of California and Melva Wiedeman of Sweetwater; a brother, Bobby Frank Boyd of Dallas; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

        He was preceded in death by a daughter, Shirley Wildin; a sister, Jessie Lee Campbell; a brother J.P. Boyd; and a granddaughter.

        Honorary pallbearers will be Bryan Newsome, Chris Broussard, Bill Briggs, Richard Neill, Richard McElroy and Mike McElroy. (Richard and Mike were unable to attend so Benny McElroy, Steve McElroy and Rodney Boyd filled in.  My notes-vg)

        Memorials may be made to Sweetwater Cemetery Trust fund, P.O. Box 450, Sweetwater 79556.



BACK