Madge Bryan Boucher Boynton

1927 - 2017

Madge Bryan Boucher Boynton

Madge Bryan Boucher Boynton was born at home in Timpson, Texas, on October 9, 1927, and died at home in Denton, Texas, on July 17, 2017. Madge was the eldest child of Robert Ernest Boucher and Lillian Bryan Boucher. She was a person of sharp intellect and was blessed with incredible musical gifts. When Madge was only eight years old, her father, eager to support and encourage his young daughter's budding talent, went to Shreveport, Louisiana, and purchased for her a baby grand piano. Madge made the most of that amazing gift and of her talent, playing and singing at numerous events while still a child and teen and throughout her life. The piano graced her home until her death. She excelled in school athletics, pitching for softball teams and becoming the "champeen" of the county tennis match. She also was drum major of the high school band. At the age of sixteen, she graduated valedictorian from Timpson High School, and enrolled in Texas State College for Women (now Texas Woman's University) where she earned a bachelor's degree majoring in voice and piano. While at TSCW, Madge was dubbed "Miss Madge" by then-college president Dr. L. H. Hubbard and served as the unofficial pianist for school sing-a-longs and other events for as long as she was a student there.

In June of 1948, Madge married Walter Eugene Boynton. The couple went on to have two daughters, Rebecca Gene Boynton, in December, 1949, and Nancy Jane Boynton, in October, 1951. As talented as she was in so many areas, Madge excelled perhaps most of all as a mother, always making her girls feel loved and special. When her daughters grew up and left the nest for college, Madge took advantage of an opportunity to attend TWU on a grant and earned a master's degree in history in 1970. She then became a history teacher for Denton ISD, a career in which she took great pride and joy. When life became its hardest, she became an example of strength and perseverance - a survivor - doubling down to finish her twenty-two year career triumphantly while also enjoying her family and friends, reading, and traveling extensively.

Madge was an active member of First Christian Church of Denton. An avid reader, she joined the Friends of the Denton Public Libraries, serving a term as president. After her retirement from teaching in 1992, Madge became heavily involved in the Former Students Association of TWU. Her service included two terms as president, four terms as treasurer, and stints as class agent and member of the finance committee. Her passion was to enable as many new students as possible to experience the benefits of a fine education. She accomplished that by reaching out and reining in as many "Tessie" graduates as possible to help support the institution she believed had benefited her so much in her lifetime.

Madge was full of spunk, fun to be with, easy to love, easy to respect, and easy to admire. She was simply outstanding.

Madge is survived by daughter Rebecca Burke and husband Hardy of Krum; daughter Nancy Hightower of Dallas; grandson Sam Burke and wife Anna of Corinth; granddaughter Amy Burke and husband Brad Williams of Dallas; grandsons Blaine Hightower and Keith Hightower, both of Dallas; great-grandchildren Catherine Burke and Samuel Burke of Corinth; and sister Martha Brassfield and husband Joe of Kingwood. She was predeceased by her parents and her son-in-law, Max Hightower.

A memorial service for Madge will be held Wednesday, August 2, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at First Christian Church, 1203 Fulton Street, Denton (76201), after which the family will receive guests. Anyone wishing to honor her memory might consider a contribution to the Memorial Fund of First Christian Church; Texas Woman's University Foundation, Office of University Advancement, P. O. Box 425618, Denton, TX 76204 (memo line: Alumni Assn. in memory of Madge Boynton); Friends of Reading, Department of Reading, Texas Woman's University, P. O. Box 425769, Denton, TX 76204; or Denton Public Libraries, 940-349-8754. The family respectfully requests no flowers.