Betty Coulter Boyd

Boyd, Betty Coulter 96 10/17/1914 3/1/2011 Betty passed peacefully Tuesday, March 1, 2011, during a nap, ending a wonderful life of 96 years. Born in Joseph, she was the daughter and only child of Norvin and Edna (Ragsdale) Coulter. She spent her first years in Baker, moving to Hood River in early grade school, where her father became the Hood River Ford dealer. There she met the love of her life, John Boyd. They were married from 1936 until his death in 1986. Her education was curtailed by the Depression and she was only able to spend two years at Oregon State College (now University). In early marriage she was busy as a homemaker and mother to children, Larry and Sudee. With the advent of World War II, her husband, John, enlisted and went off to war taking his young family with him across the country as he trained for overseas deployment. Betty spoke fondly of her experiences as a "camp follower" in the deep South. While he was in Europe in the U.S. Army, and later in a German POW camp, she and the children moved in with his parents in Hood River and she took a job as a secretary with the local power company. When he returned, the family moved to Portland where John found an insurance job. The family eventually settled in Beaverton and Betty became an avid golfer at Portland Golf Club. She enjoyed her garden and duplicate bridge, also volunteering for the Red Cross and the Assistance League. A strong supporter of the campaign to save The Old Church, she spent many years developing the church thrift shop and worked regular shifts as a saleswoman there. With her children in college, Betty took speech at Portland State University and fell in love with acting and directing. She appeared in small amateur productions throughout her life. She and John also traveled the world with the State Department's People to People Golf program. As a widow, Betty continued world travels with groups of friends. A high point was her opportunity to shake hands and chat with the queen of England during a visit to Malta while her grandchild, Molly Hering Bordonaro, was ambassador there. Betty was an independent woman and her lifelong interest in the stock market led to her controlling her own portfolio and making real estate and other investments for her own account. John and Betty spent many winters at their secondary home in Pauma Valley, Calif., and upon his death in 1986, she continued to head south each year making California her permanent home in 1995. She spent the last 10 years of her life actively participating in and sponsoring plays, travel and putting contests at her independent living condominium. She was chairperson of the tenant's management committee of the facility. Recently, she returned to Portland to be near her family for her last years. She will be missed, but her intelligence, independent spirit, generosity and love of travel lives on in the family she inspired. Betty is survived by her son, Larry Boyd (Linda); and daughter, Sudee Hering (Clayton), both of Portland; grandchildren, Lisa Handley, Portland; Molly Bordonaro, Portland; Kricken Yaker, Portland; Corky Boyd, Rye Brook, N.Y.; Thomas Boyd, Los Altos Hills, Calif.; and Michael Boyd, Portland. Her remains will be placed with her husband John's in Riverview Mausoleum. There will be no services. The family plans a remembrance of life gathering of family members later this year.