Mary Katherine Boyd

Mary Katherine (Meritt) Boyd, of Nixa, Missouri, died Wednesday, December 03, 2025, in Springfield, Missouri after a brief illness, at the age of 86 years, 6 months, and 20 days. She was born to Veronica Lucinda (King) Meritt and Lawrence Meritt on May 13, 1939, in Clever, Missouri. She grew up on the farm in Boaz and graduated from Clever High School in 1957.
Mary was united in marriage to John William Boyd on December 27, 1958, in Clever, Missouri and they enjoyed 59 years of marriage before his passing in April 2018. To this union, three daughters were born, Anita Michelle, Kimberly Renee, and Katrina Lyn.
They lived in Georgia briefly, but soon returned to Nixa, and then back to Boaz in 1975 to begin life on the dairy farm. Mary was known for her craftiness and hospitality and loved life on the farm where she could always be found with an abundance of animals and children. She was an involved school and sports mom and enjoyed all their activities. Once her own girls were grown, she enjoyed nurturing many foster children and several exchange students. She enjoyed volunteering at Least of These and travelling with John as long as their health allowed. Cooking and gardening, hosting pool parties, spending time with her lady friends, as well as all the activities surrounding their church at Mt. Sinai Baptist, and in retirement, North Nixa Baptist kept Mary busy and happy.
She is survived by her daughters, Kimberly Burke and Katrina (David) Engelman; grandchildren, Dalton (Kylah) Burke, Kylea (Orion) Avery, Audrey (Chris) Mitchell, Isaiah (Karli) Engelman, Olivia Engelman, and Noah Engelman; great grandchildren, Juday Avery, Sadie Burke, Beau Avery, Hattie Burke, William Mitchell, and Henry Mitchell; Also, brothers in law James Boyd and Richard (Collette) Boyd; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She is preceded in death by her firstborn Anita Michelle in 1962; her parents; son in law Shaun Alan Burke; brother James Allen Meritt, sister-in-law Ruby Fay Meritt; special great nephew Aaron Lynn King. Parents in law Sherman and Lillian Boyd; Brothers and sisters in law Gene and Stella Boyd, Harold and Wanda Boyd, Kathern Boyd, and Lois Boyd.
A visitation will be held on December 05, from 10:00 AM-11:30 AM at Meadors Funeral Home, Clever, followed by a graveside memorial at 12:00 PM at Frazier Cemetery in Boaz.
Memorial contributions may be made to Least of These, Ozark, MO, where she volunteered.
The family wishes to extend thanks to the community at Castlewood Assisted Living and their dear caregivers, especially sweet friend Janae, as well as The Maples, where she spent her final days.