Bettye Louise Gerhardt Boyd, age 91, Joplin, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at her home with family at her side.
Bettye was born March 21, 1923 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, daughter of the late Julius William Gerhardt and Rosalia Fredrica Woeltje Gerhardt. She graduated from Cape Girardeau High School, attended Yale School of Art, and then married Robert Boyd on April 11, 1954 in Cape Girardeau. She moved to Joplin in 1968, where she helped her husband with their business, Grandpa’s, located on North Main Street in Joplin.
She was a very generous person who helped many people through the years. She was fiercely proud of her German (Bavarian and Upper Saxon) lineage, "I'm a pure blooded German", loved to play any card game, and was a competitor. Her life was dedicated to her children, grandchildren, and her children's friends, especially celebrating birthdays which were major productions in her yearly plans. She was a better wife than any man deserved, she had fresh flowers every day of the year, and fought hard to reach her 92nd birthday.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by five siblings, Kermit W. Gerhardt, Burton Julius Gerhardt, Reginald F. Gerhardt, William A. Gerhardt, Julius W. Gerhardt, Jr., and Sally Gerhardt Clayton.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Boyd of Joplin; children, Randolph Nelson Sykes and wife Kim of Port Orange, Florida, Ann Elizabeth Mockett-Smith and husband David Smith of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; Robert Wesley Boyd and wife Cindy of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Katherine Trammell and husband Dr. Vic Trammell of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Derrick Ingram and wife Jackie of Houston, Texas; known as "Gom-Gom to her grandchildren, Hannah K. Boyd of Tulsa, Ann Elizabeth Smith of New Smyrna Beach, Ian S. Boyd of Tulsa, and Kevin and Kyle Ingram of Houston, Hill, Virginia, and John Trammell.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.
A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary.
No comments:
Post a Comment