William Rory Boyle

William Rory Boyle was born on August 23, 1939 in the shadow the Great Depression, and passed peacefully of natural causes on February 18, 2026. He was the spiritual and intellectual foundation of his family.

"Rory" grew up on Detroit's near-west side, the oldest of seven children. He shared a bedroom with three brothers in a small house on Cheyene street, just around the corner from Precious Blood Catholic Church, his family parish. He attended Precious Blood elementary school, eventually moving on to high school at Detroit Catholic Central. His senior year he transferred to Sacred Heart Seminary to explore a life in the priesthood. After graduation he realized the priesthood wasn't for him, a decision likely encouraged in part by his future wife Elizabeth.

A tireless worker, Rory saved enough money in his father's heat-treating plant to put himself through University of Detroit. He was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning a public accounting degree. He also served his country in the Marine Corps, at one point nervously watching the Bay of Pigs unfold from a base in North Carolina. After a short courtship, Liz & Rory married on September 27, 1962.

Rory – or "Bill" at work – eventually became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and rose in the "Big 8" accounting world with Haskin & Sells (later Deloitte) early in his career. Sons Bill, Brian and Ray were born in rapid succession. After a short stint in Milwaukee, Rory and Liz purchased a house in Troy, Michigan where Liz became pregnant with Jim. Liz suffered a major stroke an hour after Jim's birth. She was in a coma, paralyzed on her right side and would eventually need to learn to walk and talk again. Rory turned 30 the following day. With four boys six-years-old and under, he leaned into his family and his wife's recovery with a deep, uncompromising devotion that to this day is the lens through which three generations of his family view goodness and unconditional love.

In 1972 Rory and Liz moved north for the slower pace of Port Austin, Michigan and built a house on the edge of Port Cresent State Park. His footsteps in those woods were the first of many for his family, and the house included a deck and fireplace so Liz could enjoy it as well – all in the company of her friends and the birds at her birdfeeder. Adjacent to the house, Rory and his friends poured a concrete half-court basketball haven, and he loved to watch a never-ending line of hoopers claim "next" –– long after he retired his slow, but deadly two-handed set shot. Their living room became legendary as the boys and their friends – and eventually their wives and children – honed their skills at talking over each other to debate current events. He built a culture grounded in love and void of judgment, goading all with a glass of red wine while giving unspoken permission to change your mind the next morning if anyone said something stupid the night before. The tradition continues to this day and those debates, in composite, have fueled enough empathy and intellect to circle the universe many times over.

An accountant's skill set with a fearless and creative mind is a dangerous thing, and Rory put it all to work as the controller and CFO for the Pigeon Cooperative Elevator. In his tenure the Elevator grew from a localized grain handler to an international enterprise, exporting dry beans, soybeans, and wheat to markets around the globe. He helped oversee company expansion, including acquisitions of the Akron Elevator and the Thumb Terminal, and a merger with Sebewaing Farmers Cooperative. Helping grow prosperity for neighbors and friends through the Cooperative model in his rural community was one of his proudest achievements. It should be noted that he swam in Lake Huron every night after work from mid-May to Mid-September with a freestyle stroke so lumbering it was miracle he didn't sink.

Service was central for Rory, and he dove into his community at every opportunity. He was a member of the Rotary and Lions clubs, and handed several of his sons their diplomas as a member of the school board. He was also a central figure in the consolidation of the Port Austin and Kinde school districts, a move that ensured busing and the arts curriculum survived for the rural student body. He was active in his church, including at one point deciding to teach catechism for his boys and their friends to share his vision of a positive and loving God that he didn't always see emphasized. Many still remember the awkward bewilderment of being forced to listen quietly to Van Morrison and reflect on love and faith and community during those sessions at the Boyle house.

After his retirement he remained curious and entrepreneurial, taking up violin, pottery, tennis and, for at least one day, building construction with his friend Tom Homrich before he was encouraged not to return to the site. That intrepid sense of exploration lives on in his children and grandchildren.

As his body failed him the muscle memory of his love for Liz carried him beyond what anyone thought imaginable. That love was inspiring for many who witnessed it and seemed to somehow hold a few clues to life's many mysteries. We hope he's now rejoicing in the full reveal of those mysteries and can't wait to greet him on the other side so he can show us all of what he's learned. Just as he did in this life.

Rory is survived by Elizabeth, his loving wife of 63 years; sons Bill (Julie), Brian (April), Ray (Kelly), and Jim (Mary); grandchildren Conor (Kelsey), Lauren (Matt), Sean (Chloe), Jack (Mary Kate), Cait (Matthew), Carter, Gram, Rowen, Finnian, Frances, and Lucinda; siblings Michael (Connie), Terry (Lori), Patricia (Tom) Wendt, Betty (Ken) Mullen, and Brian (Roberta). He is preceded in death by his parents William and Helen, brother John, and John's wife Irene.

The funeral mass will be held Saturday, March 7 at Gesu Catholic Church in Detroit.

Visitation 10 a.m.

Mass 11 a.m.

(Gesu Catholic Church, 17180 Oak Drive; Detroit, MI 48221)

A celebration of life with music, stories, food and refreshments will follow at a TBD location.

Should you want to leave a gift in memory of Rory the family request donations to:

Huron County Nature Center at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FNU3QZJR3XS2S or mailed to P.O. Box 462 Port Austin, MI 48467