Boyd Conrad Worley

1940 - 2013

Boyd Conrad Worley obituary, 1940-2013, Skagway, AK

BORN

1940

DIED

2013

Boyd Worley Obituary

Boyd C. Worley, Jr. the Skagway community's "Large-in-Charge" died on
September 27, 2013. Worley had been home recovering from a collapsed
artery in his quadruple by-pass in August. In the words of one of his care-
givers, "His heart of gold just wore out." What follows are Boyd's
obituary by Mike Sica and the Worley family and a selection of tributes
and memories spoken at his Celebration of Life that was attended by more
than 400 people at the Skagway School gym on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013.


Great things do happen on 9-11.
Boyd Conrad Worley, Jr. was born on September 11, 1940 in Buchanan,
Virginia and was raised in Richmond. He had one younger brother,
Thomas and four sisters, Peggy, Cookie, Doris and Kitty. Boyd graduated from Thomas Dale High School in June 1968. He joined the U.S. Air Force in January 1959 and was Honorably Discharged on June 06, 1966. In 1963, Boyd attended the Yale University Institute of Far Eastern Languages studying Mandarin Chinese. He went on to complete a four-year course in nine months. While in New Haven, Connecticut, he met a beautiful young woman named Jean Nakamura. Jean was in Connecticut studying to be a teacher. The day Boyd approached Jean was July 10, 1963, which happened to be her birthday. That night Boyd and Jean went to a movie. After leaving the theater and passing a row of jewelry stores, Boyd asked Jean: "What ring
would you buy?" Jean told him: "I don't wear jewelry."
Boyd persisted: "But, if you did wear jewelry, what ring would you buy?"
So Jean pointed out one that contained her birth stone ruby.
Boyd then asked her: "What watch would you buy?"
Jean told him: "I don't wear watches."
Again Boyd persisted: "If you did wear a watch, which one would you buy?"
Jean then pointed to one just to "make him be quiet,"
The next day, after Jean was leaving work at a restaurant, Boyd was there
with the ring and the watch. Seven months later, Boyd and Jean were
married on January 1, 1964.
This January would have been their 50th anniversary.
Jean always wondered why Boyd worked so fast, and just last month she
asked him, "Why would you get me a ring and a watch a day after you met
me?" Boyd said: "I knew you were the one and I didn't want to lose you."
They eventually had four children: Kevin, Scott, Stephanie and JoAnne and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jean would joke with Boyd each Father's Day:" One of these four is actually yours." The family had a lot of fun guessing each year. Boyd came to Alaska in 1972, after transferring from his job at Japan Airlines, in Hawaii. While in Anchorage, he changed careers and went to work with U.S. Customs in 1974. Meanwhile, Jean was having a hard time with the winters. She was homesick for Hawaii and realized later that she was suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Jean told Boyd she couldn't take another winter in Anchorage. She asked Boyd, "Who would move from paradise in Hawaii to Alaska?" Then, in 1976, Boyd came to Skagway on temporary assignment for U.S. Customs. He met locals such as Bea Lingle, Kurt Kosters, Charlotte Jewell, Lainey Papageorge and Debbie Mahle. Boyd told Jean how nice and friendly everyone was.
"I found paradise for you, we're moving to Skagway!" he said.
They moved here permanently in September 1976 and Skagway has never
been the same, thank God!

Boyd was preceded in death by his parents, Boyd C. Worley, Sr. and Pearl Hunt Worley, his older sister, Peggy Worley, his younger brother, Thomas Owen Worley and younger sister, Esther Cookie Steinmetz. He is survived by younger sisters: Doris (and Dan Bailey) Worley, Kitty (and Charles Mills) Worley, Tommy's wife, Mary Worley, Cookie's husband, John Steinmetz and numerous nieces and nephews: four children:
Kevin (and Kim Murphy Sanders) Worley, Scott (and Roseanne Perotto) Worley, Stephanie (and Scott Halama) Worley and JoAnne Worley; twelve grandchildren: Jarid (and Savannah Price) Worley, Marissa (and Jamaal Bailey) Worley: Michael (and Gretchen Schott) Sanders, Krisitn Sanders, Kaylin "K.K." Sanders, Melissa Halama Hall, Sarah Halama, Bryce Jones and Jayne Grace Eddy; five great-grandchildren: Jared Worley, Brailyn Marie Worley (our little Beemer), A'Rhiyana Maake Worley, Noah Halama and Kael Conrad Leighton Eddy.
Contributed by Mike Sica for the Worley family.

A big Boyd Thank you to our friends in Juneau, Hoonah, Sitka, Ketchikan and Yakutat for the gifts of flowers and kind words and the kind words of comfort during our time of great sadness and loss. Please keep Boyd in your hearts and prayers.
"That Part of a good man's life, his little known acts of kindness and love."

Published by Juneau Empire on Oct. 10, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Boyd Worley

Not sure what to say?





19 Entries

Please accept my sincere condolences, may you be assured that the God of all comfort will ease the pain of your heavy heart during these emotionally difficult days' that often can be hard to cope with. Matthew 5:4 reads.. "Happy are those who mourn since they will be comforted".

Mimi Aggas

December 30, 2017

I just learned of Boyd's passing. I knew him in Honolulu when he was with Japan Airlines and kept in touch when he went to Alaska. Boyd was a compassionate man who once donated a weeks leave to me during a medical emergency of mine. God Bless Boyd Worley

Creighton Goldsmith

May 30, 2016

I've just learned of Boyd's passing. He and I were young men serving in the Air Force together at Yale and in Taiwan. Though it's been nearly 50 years, I still remember him as a good friend and a good man. We are all a little poorer now that he is gone.

Les Duffin

March 20, 2014

Uncle Buddy was one-of-a-kind. He always had great advice and a sense of humor just like my Uncle Tommy. He always made my daughters day when she received her Boyd Worley Basketball tee shirt. He will be missed by his family. We love you Uncle Buddy!!!!

Cynthia Steinmetz

January 19, 2014

Jean, I was so sorry to learn of Boyd's passing. He was one of a kind, and such a good friend to both Lebron and myself, as you were.

Pansy Herring

November 1, 2013

Good Bye ole dude....I will never forget all the good things you did for me. It was a real pleasure working with you. Many fond memories of my time in Alaska.Never laughed so hard at all your jokes. You will be missed by many..To Jean and family. I am so sorry for your loss...Boyd was one in a million.....

Dan Hodge

October 27, 2013

Jean & family,
My heart goes out to you and the family during this time of loss. Boyd will be missed by many.

Janice Christopherson CBP, Portland, OR

October 15, 2013

All the best to the Worley family Boyd was a lovely person and will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, Boyd, you did good!

Kymberly Fernandez

October 14, 2013

Nita & I will never meet & known a better friend than Boyd & Jean. So sorry to lose him so soon. <3

Jerry Gentile

October 13, 2013

Kevin and family, so very sorry for your loss.

Tom Locher

October 12, 2013

October 12, 2013

My friend and fellow Officer with the heart of gold you will be missed. I will not forget and will always remember you as a true friend.

SCBPO Don

October 11, 2013

I was saddened to read that Boyd had died. It is a testament to his character that so many people will miss him. I, and my entire family, are among those that do. I especially enjoyed, and even looked forward to, reading his highlights of the youth basketball games. It always brought me a smile to read them, knowing the kids he wrote about would remember his kind words.

Godspeed

Our Condolences to the entire Worley family.

Martin Beckner

October 11, 2013

Jean, thank you for letting Boyd move you to Skagway. You and Boyd have been such a blessing to Skagway and so many people are better off because you folks not only talke the talk but you both walked the walk in the way you treated people wether on duty or off. May God bless you and keep you.

John MIELKE

October 11, 2013

I had the pleasure of working with Boyd in his first days with Customs in Anchorage. He was a good man with a thoughtful heart , a gentle spirit and an insightful mind. Even though it has been 38 years since I've seen him, we maintained occasional email contact. When Lynn Burlingame left word of his passing my eyes immediately embarrassed me. My prayers are with all of his family and friends. He leaves behind a set of big shoes to fill.

Dennis Hazelton

October 11, 2013

My condolences to the family. Boyd will be missed, but what a life he lead! You are all blessed and his legacy will continue. See you later Mr. Worley.

October 11, 2013

Jean, and family. Kris and I would like to offer our prayers and blessings to you and your family. During this time of sadness. I have many fond memories of Boyd while we lived in Skagway from 1986-1999. But most of all Boyd such a positive and favorable impression on our kids Monique and Jeff. May God hold you in the palm of His hand. Rev. Dr. Steve Nesheim

October 11, 2013

Jeanne and family, We're so sorry to hear about Boyd's passing. He (and Jeanne) were always so kind to us as NPS seasonals back in the day when that was not a popular thing to be. He made coming back into the US a pleasure and we always enjoyed a good laugh. Although we didn't see him much, we will miss him. Condolences to you all, Chas and Cristi

Cristi/Chas Herren/Dense

October 11, 2013

Our hearts go out to the whole Worley family. Especially my son-in-law, Kevin and his Mother, Jean. I felt priveliged to meet Boyd, even though I accidently called him "Frank" and he went along with the joke. He will be greatly missed. Love, Marty and Pete Murphy

October 11, 2013

Showing 1 - 19 of 19 results

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