Mary Katherine Boyd

Mary Katherine Boyd, 81, passed away peacefully in Bellingham, Washington on December 10, 2019 after a four-year battle with Alzheimer Disease.

Mary Kay was born in Colfax, Washington on November 12, 1938 to Harold and Elizabeth Patterson.  She subsequently moved with her parents and sister to Seattle, where she graduated from Highline High School.  She briefly attended Washington State University, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. However, her plans changed when she met the love of her life, William J. Boyd in a berry field. They married in 1958, after which they had two sons-William Jr. and David.

The Boyd’s moved to Twin Falls, Idaho in 1964, and for the next decade operated a funeral home. She kept herself busy with various philanthropic endeavors and fraternal organizations including Odd Fellows, the PEO Sisterhood, and the Order of Eastern Star. In these organizations she supported her husband’s national leadership obligations, served as Past Matron of Reliance Chapter #70 of Eastern Star, and was Past Noble Grand of Aurilla Rebekah Lodge #133. She also served as a church organist, filling the First Christian Church sanctuary with beautiful music for several years. Eventually they moved back to the Puget Sound region, residing in Bremerton, where Bill managed a funeral home, and Mary Kay continued her fraternal organizational work. Mary Kay and Bill were active members of Summit Avenue Presbyterian Church in Bremerton, and she also served as church organist for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Besides her fraternal and charitable work, she enjoyed working for McBride’s Hallmark for 18 years, only retiring with her husband when they decided to become full-time RV’ers, traveling throughout the west. They spent their winters in Yuma, and summers in Puget Sound visiting with friends and family, and dotting on their five grandchildren and their dog Chock. After Bill’s death in 2005, Mary Kay eventually moved back to Puget Sound full-time and started working as a home care attendant, taking care of those with significant medical and dementia issues.

Ironically, after taking care of many dementia patients, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia. During her last few years she resided at Bellingham At Orchard Memory Care, where she once again became somewhat of a caregiver, helping staff and fellow residents with caring concern, love, and humor.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Bill and son, David. She is survived by her sister Genie Patterson, son Bill Boyd, daughter in law Dianne, granddaughters Sarah, Kyleigh, and Kristen, and grandsons Tyler and Evan, and great granddaughter Quinn.

The family is extremely grateful for the loving care of The Bellingham At Orchard and Whatcom Hospice staff.

A memorial service will be held on January 18, 2020 at 1 PM at Edline-Yahn & Covington Funeral Chapel, 27221 156th Ave SE, Kent, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Whatcom Hospice or your local Hospice, so they can help other families in need.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Katherine Boyd, please visit our floral store.