Helen Boyce

Helen Genevieve Hill Boyce, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend died Sunday evening at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. Mrs. Boyce was the first-born daughter to parents Helen Ruth Oldham Hill and Joseph Wilford Hill, March 28, 1919. Mrs. Boyce received her education in the Cherokee public schools and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Music Education. While at OU, Mrs. Boyce was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. Ms. Boyce taught music in Alva, Oklahoma until she enlisted in the Women's Army Corps in WWII. She served our nation in Papua, New Guinea, and in the Philippines as a secretary. Upon her honorary discharge from the Army on November 27, 1945, Mrs. Boyce returned to the Alva area where she taught music and worked for the Soil Conservation Service. She met and married her superintendent of schools, Willard Boyce on Dec. 27, 1946. The Boyces lived on the family farm in Carmen, Oklahoma and celebrated the birth of their only son Wendell Hill Boyce on June 24, 1950. In 1953, Mr. Boyce died suddenly and Mrs. Boyce and Wendell moved to Cherokee where she again taught school. Genevieve and Wendell moved to Bartlesville to be closer to her two sisters Amy Hill Thomas and Ruth Ann Hill Moberly. She became Director of Education at First United Methodist Church of Bartlesville and later worked for Phillips Petroleum Co., retiring from Applied Automation after 25 years of service. In retirement Genevieve worked to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, tutored non-English speaking students for the Laubach Literacy program where she helped both adults and high school students to learn not only the English language but some of the customs of our nation. Mrs. Boyce was an active member of Chapter ED, PEO, Delta Delta Delta Alumni Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, Sewing Club, Bartlesville Literacy Council, and Lois Skavlen Guild.. She was a generous supporter of OK Mozart, Bartlesville Symphony, Bartlesville School Foundation, Allied Arts Association, and may local charities. Her pride and joy was her family including her four grandsons. She loved going to their sporting and musical events. She made a special effort to support her nieces and nephews in their interests as well. All who knew her will miss her dry sense of humor, sharp wit, and graciousness. She was truly a lady and model for independent women. She is survived by one son, Wendell Hill Boyce and his wife Peggy and grandsons J.Wilford Hill Boyce and Kevin Allan Lincoln Boyce.of Bartlesville, Edward Andrew Boyce of Greeley, Colorado, Ryan Patrick Boyce of Stillwater, OK, a brother-in-law Warren Thomas, nieces Nancy Thomas Farmer and husband Bob of Bartlesville, Judith Moberly Garson and husband Al, of Springfield, Mo., Dr. Merrie Moberly Viscarra of Chicago, Il., Laurie Moberly Lee and husband Robert of Tulsa, and nephews Tim Moberly of Springfield, Mo., Dr. and Mrs. David Thomas of Houston, Tx., Greg Thomas and wife Sue of Dewey, Ok. Mrs. Boyce was preceded in death by her husband Willard Boyce, her parents and sisters Amy Thomas and Ruth Ann Moberly. Memorials may be made in Mrs. Boyce's name to the Bartlesville Literacy Council C/O of Teresa Brown 600 S. Johnstone Bartlesville, OK 74003 or the First United Methodist Church, Youth Education Department P.O. Box 1136 Bartlesville, OK 74005 Memorial services will be Monday January 15, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with Dr. Robert Pierson officiating. Committal Prayers will be Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Carmen, OK. Cremation and services are under the direction of the Neekamp -Luginbuel Funeral home. Due to incliment weather Mrs. Boyce's Memorial Service have been reschedeuled to Saturday January 20 at 11: 00 at the First United Methodist Church, with the interment to be held at a later date.

Service Details

Saturday, January 20th, 2007 11:00am, First United Methodist Church Bartlesville

Interment Details

Pleasant Ridge Cemetery