Elmer L. "Sonny" Boyd

Elmer L. "Sonny" Boyd of Blooming Grove, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 24,
2024, in Corsicana, Texas. He was born on September 21, 1927, to William Isaac and
Littie Melissa (Pullin) Boyd, in Cryer Creek, Texas. He met Yvonne Smith at a skating rink in
1948, and he told friends he was going to marry her. They were married on June 30, 1950,
and made their home in Dallas, Texas. They had three daughters from this union and
married for 65 years until Yvonne's death in 2015.
Sonny was the ninth of ten children, growing up in the Cryer Creek area before the family
moved to Blooming Grove, Texas, in 1946. He graduated from Blooming Grove High School
in 1946.
Sonny joined the U. S. Navy in 1946 and served until 1948. He served on DD 713, North and
South Atlantic, and Carribean.
On May 19, 1952, he joined the Dallas Police Department as a patrolman and became a
detective October 15, 1957. He retired from DPD in 1978. He joined the Euless Police
Department in October 1978 as a warrant officer then became the court administrator in
1981. He permanently retired on February 1, 1989.
Sonny and Yvonne moved from Dallas to Navarro Mills Lake in 1989, then made their home
in Blooming Grove, Texas, in January 1999.
He was a member of the Blooming Grove Methodist Church and a member of the Blooming
Grove Masonic Lodge. He was a Mason for over 50 years and enjoyed teaching the
Masonic works to others. He served on Navarro County Crimestoppers for 33 years. He
served as Vice President of the Rose Hill Cemetery Association from 2001 to 2021.
Sonny was the last living DPD detective who investigated the JFK assassination. His
picture appears in many historic photos.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, 9 siblings and 1 son-in-law.
Sonny is survived by his 3 daughters, Pam Boyd (Paul Korkames), Donna Roach (Ricky) and
Toni Rhyne, 7 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren, and 1
sister-in-law Gail Alexander, numerous nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express their thanks and gratitude to Hand in Hand Hospice and the
staff of the Village at Heritage Oaks.
Visitation with his family will be Thursday, May 30 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Griffin Roughton
Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 31 at 11 a.m. at First Methodist
Church, Corsicana, Texas. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Blooming Grove.
Serving as pallbearers are his grandson and great grandsons Randy Roach, Bradley Roach,
Blake Bowen, Brodey Bowen, Eli Rios and Jace Trull. Honorary pallbearers will be Austin
Rice, Rowdy Rice, Andrew Green, the men of the Blooming Grove Methodist Church and
the men of the Blooming Grove Masonic Lodge.
If desired, donations in Elmer "Sonny" Boyd's memory may be made to Texas Scottish Rite
Hospital, Rose Hill Cemetery Association in Blooming Grove, or the Blooming Grove
Methodist Church.