Boyd James Byers was born May 4, 1934, at Randall Flat in Troy to Boyd Basil Byers and Dorothy Lansbury Byers. Boyd lived in Elk River from birth to 1941. He passed away Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, after a brave nine-year battle with cancer. He attended Elk River school until moving to Lewiston where he attended grade school, Lewiston Junior High and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1952.
Boyd began working at the young age of 11, baby-sitting for neighborhood families. As a teenager he picked cherries, set pins at the old bowling alley in downtown Lewiston, caddied at the Clarkston Country Club, made butter at Huggins Dairy, pumped gas at Basil's Barrel and unloaded mail trains at the Lewiston Train Depot.
Boyd began his 40-year career at Potlatch Pulp and Paper Mill at the age of 19 as a cleanup man in the pulp side, advancing up through the production ranks to foreman until he retired in 1993 after he achieved the title of assistant superintendent of the Clearwater pulp mill. After retirement from Clearwater Paper, he was employed by Paper Chemicals Inc. of Texarkana, Texas, as the firm's public relations representative in this area for five years. His last paying job was working as "first mate" for his longtime friend and captain, John Jones, running tour boat trips up the Snake River for Beamers.
Boyd was a willing and avid volunteer. He was a past member of the board of directors of the Clarkston Country Club and the Elks Lodge, board president of the Elks Lodge and board member of the Nez Perce County Historical Society. Boyd was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge and was chosen Elk of the Year and was a longtime member of the Moose Lodge.
Boyd was a very kind-hearted and thoughtful person. He was quite artistic and while in high school designed and painted the props for the school plays and high school dances. He had a real love for music and could be heard singing and whistling when deep in thought while working on a project. He was a man who loved projects! A humble man, he was an accomplished Jack of all trades who could design, remodel, landscape, plumb and wire most anything. These talents came in handy with the purchase of their Elk River get-away house, which both he and his wife dearly enjoyed. He loved to travel and golf with friends and family.
Boyd possessed a strong Christian faith. He was a hard-working, dedicated and loving man who was deeply loved by his family and friends. He is survived by his loving wife, Geneal, whom he married in 1978; his sister, Mildred Snider and her husband, Leo; brother Alan Byers and his wife, Peggy; stepchildren Dale Fry and Nori Pearson from his first marriage in 1956, and Brenda Biegert Blair, Barry H. Biegert, and Belinda Biegert Kuehl from his second marriage; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother and sister-in-law Wayne and Virgie Byers.
Boyd will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. We will cherish his great stories, his good jokes, his quick wit, his genuine smile and his loving ways. He is a man who lived life well and will continue to live in the hearts of his friends and family. We appropriately honor him and the wonderful memories he created for us during his lifetime.
The family wishes to thank doctors Binay Shah and Daniel McIntosh, the dedicated staff at St. Joseph Regional Cancer Center and St. Joseph's Family Hospice for their care and support during his final illness.
Cremation has taken place and the interment will be at Normal Hill Cemetery, immediately following the celebration of life at 10 a.m. Saturday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home. A dinner will be served following the interment at the Granite Lake RV Resort hospitality room located behind Costco, at 306 Granite Lake Drive in Clarkston.
The family requests any gifts be made to the favorite charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Saturday, January 11, 10:00 AM
- Location
-
Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home
1711 18th Street
Lewiston, ID 83501
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1711 18th Street