Obituary of Ronald Burton Boyd

Ronald (Ron) Burton Boyd Ron Boyd, age 66, passed peacefully away on Saturday January 19,, 2014 surrounded by his loving family. He fought a short, but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Ron was born on April 6, 1947, in Boise, Idaho to Stanton Joseph Boyd and Phyllis Elaine Gilmore Boyd. He was the second of four siblings including Joe Boyd, Bob Boyd and Julie Layne. He loved everything about sports from the neighborhood games he played in the streets where he grew up in Cascade, Idaho, to his beloved golf. His childhood was one we all dream of, playing in a small town where he knew and loved everyone and spent hours water skiing on Lake Cascade. He graduated from Cascade High School where he was Valedictorian and Student Body President. As a senior in 1965, he was the 5th leading life time scorer in Idaho High School basketball. Upon graduation, he was given an appointment to the Air Force Academy, but was turned down because of hay fever. Instead he attended the College of Idaho where he played football, basketball and baseball. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1969 with a degree in mathematics after having been Student Body President and elected into the “Who’s Who” among college students and into the 1969 edition of Outstanding College Athletes of America. At the University of Idaho he earned a Master’s Degree in 1972. In 1968, he married “his true love”, Carol Loveland. They had an amazing 45 years together. They were blessed with wonderful children, Riley Boyd and Summer Fletcher. Ron started his career teaching at Fruitland High School. He taught Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus as well as coached football, basketball and track. While at Fruitland, he earned the honor of “Outstanding Young Educator in America”. In 1974, Ron was offered coaching and teaching jobs at Twin Falls High School and Capital High School. He opted for Twin Falls and never regretted the decision. In 1978, he was recruited to sell insurance for Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. In 1981, he became one of their youngest Agency Managers. Farm Bureau offered amazing opportunities for travel (Spain, Italy, Germany, Australia, the Caribbean and Hawaii) and a chance to meet so many wonderful people who became life-long friends. While at Farm Bureau he diligently mentored others and earned his LUTCF designation and was a member of the Diamond Club and Million Dollar Club. As his children grew, Ron was very involved in their lives, coaching their baseball, basketball and football teams. He coached little league from 1st grade up through Junior High service club teams to Legion Baseball. He and his special friend, Alan Horner, were co-presidents of the Legion program when their boys were in high school. He was so proud of both his children’s successes in their sports and academic careers. When his grandchildren were born, Ron was ecstatic. He often said that the kids were like “vitamins”: they kept him healthy, alive and smiling. He lived to watch them in their sports, the older boys, Isaak and Tylor playing basketball, football and baseball (he coached their teams also) and the younger ones Ian, Kadence, Brooklyn, Camden and Abigail as they were involved in karate, gymnastics, baseball, golf, football and soccer. When not watching grandkids, you would find Ron on the golf course. Rain or shine, he was truly happy there. His golfing buddies included many, but his weekly partners, who meant the world to him were Alan Horner, Vince Williams, Evan Robertson, Gary Slette and Ted Popplewell. Ron was a member of the Twin Falls Reformed Church where he served in several capacities, including Deacon. His faith grew with his age and his loyalty and character were the cornerstones of who he was as a husband, father and friend. He was generous beyond measure helping family, friends, young athletes and missionaries. He was greatly loved and cherished and will be sincerely missed. As his family, we are grieved to see him go, but excited for his journey into Heaven. May his fairways be green, his jump shots be perfect and his passes hit every target. We will see you soon! Ron was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. Survivors include his adoring wife, Carol, his son Riley Boyd (Crystal), his daughter Summer Fletcher (Chad), his siblings Joe Boyd, Bob Boyd and Julie Layne. Also surviving are his precious grandchildren, Isaak, Tylor, Kadence, Brooklyn and Camden Boyd and Ian and Abigail Fletcher, as well as many nieces, nephews and many wonderful friends. Funeral services will be held on Thursday January 23, 2014 at 4:00 pm at the Twin Falls Reformed Church. Private family interment at Sunset Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of Rosenau Funeral Home. Our family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Saint Luke’s for their special care and the hospice nurses Michele and Jessica. Also, we especially desire to thank our amazing friends and the Twin Falls Reformed Church for the daily visits, food, cards, gifts and generous support. We love you. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Ron’s name to Twin Falls High School to help fund the new Bruin Baseball Field House.