Elizabeth Boyd Obituary

February 24, 1923 - December 15, 2008
Elizabeth T. ("Betty") Boyd, 85, of Denver and formerly Colorado Springs, passed peacefully on December 15, 2008, grateful for a blessed life on earth and excited for an adventure in heaven. Called by music, poetry, and public service, Betty knew to give was to receive; to try was to succeed; and to strive was to live. Born February 24, 1923 in Yonkers, NY to Berkley Tripp Taylor and Elsie Mae "Hallock" Taylor, she graduated from Gorton High School as Valedictorian. She completed her B.A. as a Music Major at Barnard College in 1944. During WWII, she lived at the famous Barbizon Hotel in Manhattan and worked as a Junior Engineer at Western Electric, joining the ranks of women who worked during the war to keep things going on the home front. She first met her future husband and lifetime soul mate, James Roger Boyd, when they were both members of the Columbia University Chapel Choir. Married June 19, 1948 after Roger returned from military service, the couple moved to Akron, Ohio where Roger was the Organist-Choirmaster at Westminster Presbyterian Church for seven years. Their two children were born in Akron. In 1957, the young family moved to Colorado so that the family could begin Roger's 27-year career as Director of Chapel Music for the Air Force Academy. It also marked the beginning of fulfilling a lifelong passion for the mountains, trees and snow of Colorado. When her children were young teens, Betty returned to school at Colorado College in Colorado Springs where she earned a second B.A. as an English Major and later a M.A. in Humanities. In 1967, she began a 14-year career as a high school English Teacher and later Department Chair in School District 11 (Palmer then Coronado) in Colorado Springs. After retirement, Betty entered her next career as a volunteer public servant. Among her roles and responsibilities were volunteer and then board member for Colorado Common Cause; student, teacher and group leader for the League of Women Voters; and matriarch for family, friends and others inspired to listen. She will be remembered by family and friends for her conviction that service to community is a calling, for her love of nature (especially snowflakes), and for her elegance to the end. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother Henry T. Taylor and sister-in-law Nancy Taylor (Gardnerville, NV). She is survived by daughter Susan E. Boyd (Fairplay, CO); son James B. Boyd and daughter-in-law Gretchen J. Gahm (Aspen, CO); brother Peter B. Taylor and sister-in-law Ginny Taylor (Olympia, WA); special friends of the family Janette W. Casserly (Calhan, CO) and Martha Dick (Nederland, CO); nieces and nephews residing around the world; and all whose hearts were touched by her presence. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Montview Presbyterian Church in Denver; Colorado Common Cause; The League of Women Voters of Colorado (Education Fund); or the National Parks Conservation Association. All are welcome to a memorial service on Saturday, January 31, 2009, 2:00 p.m., at Montview Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO.