Eulogy for Florence Rose Mahler Boyd
Delivered by Michelle Boyd, her granddaughter
20 March 2010, Lafayette, California
Early Years
Grandma was born Florence Rose Mahler on 14 May 1927 in Colorado to Jacob and Rose Mahler. Her parents farmed sugar beets and Grandma would help care for the younger kids.
One of her early memories was of a time when she and her siblings saw something frightening outside—a great big black thing standing on the hill. They stood on chairs behind the door and peered outside terrified until their mother came home. Later on, she found out that the thing was just a cow.
Marriage
During her childhood, Grandma moved to Denver and it was here that she lived when World War II began. Grandpa met Grandpa, an Army medic, at a skating rink in that city a couple of years after the start of the war.
Grandpa later said that he thought she was a "nice girl, innocent, clean-living, pretty." He wrote a letter asking her for a date and on their first date, they walked five miles to the city park and saw a movie.
Later, when Grandpa was in North Carolina, Grandma took a train all the way across the country to visit him. The night before they married, Frank and Florence went dancing. Just before he died, Grandpa told me that they had danced to a song called Something to Remember.
On the Fourth of July 1945, Frank and Florence arrived at the preacher's house in Marion, South Carolina, just as he was leaving to go fishing. He ended up marrying them still wearing his fishing gear! At the end of his life, Grandpa was recorded saying, "We've been bosom buddies for 53 years and my love never any stronger than the love for her that l have and her for me."
Life After the War
After the war, Grandma and Grandpa moved from Oakland to San Leandro and eventually to Pleasant Hill.
In Pleasant Hill, Grandma noticed some men going from door-to-door but that they did not stop at the Boyds' house. Curious, she went to their neighbors. She was told that the men had left a book about Mormons but that the neighbors probably weren't going to read it. Grandma, knowing that Grandpa was interested in learning about different churches, asked if she could borrow the book.
Soon, the men—stake missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—came to pick up their book. They were directed to the Boyds and learned that they were interested in learning more. They joined the LDS Church in 1965.
Family
Grandma and Grandpa had two sons, five grandchildren, and recently, a great-grandson. Grandma dearly loved her family. She had nicknames for each of her grandkids. For example, Kristin was called Kristy and I was called Michellie. Adam happened to be called Rascal.
She didn't like to write notes but she often sent cards that said simply, "Lots of love, Grandma Boyd." She sent packages to me and Kristin while we were at BYU and made very sure that we each got an equal number of items. Once when we both got Easter packages, Kristin was able to accurately guess how many of each kind of candy I received. I wonder if Grandma had counted the jelly beans to make sure neither of us got more than the other.
She liked feeding the birds, doing her family history, gardening in her big garden, and sewing. For many years, I remember Dad going to work in flannel shirts she had made. She also loved watching football, especially the 49ers and BYU.
She was very proud of us. She proudly displayed our gifts to her in her home. I once gave her a mug that said Dear Grandma in German. I went to her house later and found that instead of using it, she had put it in the curio cabinet Uncle Frank had made. She was excited for us when we were baptized, when we went to college, when we married, when we went on missions, and so on.
She died quietly in the early hours of March 17 but l have no doubt that she is on the other side of the veil with her beloved companion, many of her siblings, and her forebears, and is still very interested in our doings and very proud of us.
Delivered by Michelle Boyd, her granddaughter
20 March 2010, Lafayette, California
Early Years
Grandma was born Florence Rose Mahler on 14 May 1927 in Colorado to Jacob and Rose Mahler. Her parents farmed sugar beets and Grandma would help care for the younger kids.
One of her early memories was of a time when she and her siblings saw something frightening outside—a great big black thing standing on the hill. They stood on chairs behind the door and peered outside terrified until their mother came home. Later on, she found out that the thing was just a cow.
Marriage
During her childhood, Grandma moved to Denver and it was here that she lived when World War II began. Grandpa met Grandpa, an Army medic, at a skating rink in that city a couple of years after the start of the war.
Grandpa later said that he thought she was a "nice girl, innocent, clean-living, pretty." He wrote a letter asking her for a date and on their first date, they walked five miles to the city park and saw a movie.
Later, when Grandpa was in North Carolina, Grandma took a train all the way across the country to visit him. The night before they married, Frank and Florence went dancing. Just before he died, Grandpa told me that they had danced to a song called Something to Remember.
On the Fourth of July 1945, Frank and Florence arrived at the preacher's house in Marion, South Carolina, just as he was leaving to go fishing. He ended up marrying them still wearing his fishing gear! At the end of his life, Grandpa was recorded saying, "We've been bosom buddies for 53 years and my love never any stronger than the love for her that l have and her for me."
Life After the War
After the war, Grandma and Grandpa moved from Oakland to San Leandro and eventually to Pleasant Hill.
In Pleasant Hill, Grandma noticed some men going from door-to-door but that they did not stop at the Boyds' house. Curious, she went to their neighbors. She was told that the men had left a book about Mormons but that the neighbors probably weren't going to read it. Grandma, knowing that Grandpa was interested in learning about different churches, asked if she could borrow the book.
Soon, the men—stake missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—came to pick up their book. They were directed to the Boyds and learned that they were interested in learning more. They joined the LDS Church in 1965.
Family
Grandma and Grandpa had two sons, five grandchildren, and recently, a great-grandson. Grandma dearly loved her family. She had nicknames for each of her grandkids. For example, Kristin was called Kristy and I was called Michellie. Adam happened to be called Rascal.
She didn't like to write notes but she often sent cards that said simply, "Lots of love, Grandma Boyd." She sent packages to me and Kristin while we were at BYU and made very sure that we each got an equal number of items. Once when we both got Easter packages, Kristin was able to accurately guess how many of each kind of candy I received. I wonder if Grandma had counted the jelly beans to make sure neither of us got more than the other.
She liked feeding the birds, doing her family history, gardening in her big garden, and sewing. For many years, I remember Dad going to work in flannel shirts she had made. She also loved watching football, especially the 49ers and BYU.
She was very proud of us. She proudly displayed our gifts to her in her home. I once gave her a mug that said Dear Grandma in German. I went to her house later and found that instead of using it, she had put it in the curio cabinet Uncle Frank had made. She was excited for us when we were baptized, when we went to college, when we married, when we went on missions, and so on.
She died quietly in the early hours of March 17 but l have no doubt that she is on the other side of the veil with her beloved companion, many of her siblings, and her forebears, and is still very interested in our doings and very proud of us.
Eulogy for Florence Rose Mahler Boyd
Delivered by Michelle Boyd, her granddaughter
20 March 2010, Lafayette, California
Early Years
Grandma was born Florence Rose Mahler on 14 May 1927 in Colorado to Jacob and Rose Mahler. Her parents farmed sugar beets and Grandma would help care for the younger kids.
One of her early memories was of a time when she and her siblings saw something frightening outside—a great big black thing standing on the hill. They stood on chairs behind the door and peered outside terrified until their mother came home. Later on, she found out that the thing was just a cow.
Marriage
During her childhood, Grandma moved to Denver and it was here that she lived when World War II began. Grandpa met Grandpa, an Army medic, at a skating rink in that city a couple of years after the start of the war.
Grandpa later said that he thought she was a "nice girl, innocent, clean-living, pretty." He wrote a letter asking her for a date and on their first date, they walked five miles to the city park and saw a movie.
Later, when Grandpa was in North Carolina, Grandma took a train all the way across the country to visit him. The night before they married, Frank and Florence went dancing. Just before he died, Grandpa told me that they had danced to a song called Something to Remember.
On the Fourth of July 1945, Frank and Florence arrived at the preacher's house in Marion, South Carolina, just as he was leaving to go fishing. He ended up marrying them still wearing his fishing gear! At the end of his life, Grandpa was recorded saying, "We've been bosom buddies for 53 years and my love never any stronger than the love for her that l have and her for me."
Life After the War
After the war, Grandma and Grandpa moved from Oakland to San Leandro and eventually to Pleasant Hill.
In Pleasant Hill, Grandma noticed some men going from door-to-door but that they did not stop at the Boyds' house. Curious, she went to their neighbors. She was told that the men had left a book about Mormons but that the neighbors probably weren't going to read it. Grandma, knowing that Grandpa was interested in learning about different churches, asked if she could borrow the book.
Soon, the men—stake missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—came to pick up their book. They were directed to the Boyds and learned that they were interested in learning more. They joined the LDS Church in 1965.
Family
Grandma and Grandpa had two sons, five grandchildren, and recently, a great-grandson. Grandma dearly loved her family. She had nicknames for each of her grandkids. For example, Kristin was called Kristy and I was called Michellie. Adam happened to be called Rascal.
She didn't like to write notes but she often sent cards that said simply, "Lots of love, Grandma Boyd." She sent packages to me and Kristin while we were at BYU and made very sure that we each got an equal number of items. Once when we both got Easter packages, Kristin was able to accurately guess how many of each kind of candy I received. I wonder if Grandma had counted the jelly beans to make sure neither of us got more than the other.
She liked feeding the birds, doing her family history, gardening in her big garden, and sewing. For many years, I remember Dad going to work in flannel shirts she had made. She also loved watching football, especially the 49ers and BYU.
She was very proud of us. She proudly displayed our gifts to her in her home. I once gave her a mug that said Dear Grandma in German. I went to her house later and found that instead of using it, she had put it in the curio cabinet Uncle Frank had made. She was excited for us when we were baptized, when we went to college, when we married, when we went on missions, and so on.
She died quietly in the early hours of March 17 but l have no doubt that she is on the other side of the veil with her beloved companion, many of her siblings, and her forebears, and is still very interested in our doings and very proud of us.
Delivered by Michelle Boyd, her granddaughter
20 March 2010, Lafayette, California
Early Years
Grandma was born Florence Rose Mahler on 14 May 1927 in Colorado to Jacob and Rose Mahler. Her parents farmed sugar beets and Grandma would help care for the younger kids.
One of her early memories was of a time when she and her siblings saw something frightening outside—a great big black thing standing on the hill. They stood on chairs behind the door and peered outside terrified until their mother came home. Later on, she found out that the thing was just a cow.
Marriage
During her childhood, Grandma moved to Denver and it was here that she lived when World War II began. Grandpa met Grandpa, an Army medic, at a skating rink in that city a couple of years after the start of the war.
Grandpa later said that he thought she was a "nice girl, innocent, clean-living, pretty." He wrote a letter asking her for a date and on their first date, they walked five miles to the city park and saw a movie.
Later, when Grandpa was in North Carolina, Grandma took a train all the way across the country to visit him. The night before they married, Frank and Florence went dancing. Just before he died, Grandpa told me that they had danced to a song called Something to Remember.
On the Fourth of July 1945, Frank and Florence arrived at the preacher's house in Marion, South Carolina, just as he was leaving to go fishing. He ended up marrying them still wearing his fishing gear! At the end of his life, Grandpa was recorded saying, "We've been bosom buddies for 53 years and my love never any stronger than the love for her that l have and her for me."
Life After the War
After the war, Grandma and Grandpa moved from Oakland to San Leandro and eventually to Pleasant Hill.
In Pleasant Hill, Grandma noticed some men going from door-to-door but that they did not stop at the Boyds' house. Curious, she went to their neighbors. She was told that the men had left a book about Mormons but that the neighbors probably weren't going to read it. Grandma, knowing that Grandpa was interested in learning about different churches, asked if she could borrow the book.
Soon, the men—stake missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—came to pick up their book. They were directed to the Boyds and learned that they were interested in learning more. They joined the LDS Church in 1965.
Family
Grandma and Grandpa had two sons, five grandchildren, and recently, a great-grandson. Grandma dearly loved her family. She had nicknames for each of her grandkids. For example, Kristin was called Kristy and I was called Michellie. Adam happened to be called Rascal.
She didn't like to write notes but she often sent cards that said simply, "Lots of love, Grandma Boyd." She sent packages to me and Kristin while we were at BYU and made very sure that we each got an equal number of items. Once when we both got Easter packages, Kristin was able to accurately guess how many of each kind of candy I received. I wonder if Grandma had counted the jelly beans to make sure neither of us got more than the other.
She liked feeding the birds, doing her family history, gardening in her big garden, and sewing. For many years, I remember Dad going to work in flannel shirts she had made. She also loved watching football, especially the 49ers and BYU.
She was very proud of us. She proudly displayed our gifts to her in her home. I once gave her a mug that said Dear Grandma in German. I went to her house later and found that instead of using it, she had put it in the curio cabinet Uncle Frank had made. She was excited for us when we were baptized, when we went to college, when we married, when we went on missions, and so on.
She died quietly in the early hours of March 17 but l have no doubt that she is on the other side of the veil with her beloved companion, many of her siblings, and her forebears, and is still very interested in our doings and very proud of us.
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