Mary Folwell Dexter Boyd

Mary Folwell (Dexter) Boyd of Mankato and Hill City died on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at Dawson Place in Hill City at the age of 97 plus years.

She was born on February 5, 1913, in Columbus, Georgia, the daughter of Dr. Charles Amory and Lydia (Folwell) Dexter.

She is survived by four children and their spouses, 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

The children, spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are: Robert Alexander Boyd and wife, Diane Marie (Heim) Boyd, Hill City, and children: Valerie Elizabeth (Boyd) Kalny and husband, Benjamin Cullen Kalny and children: Noah Gibson, Eli Robert, Janet Holliday (“Holli Jane”) and Lilly Boyd, all of Lake Quivira, KS; Mary Suzanne (Boyd) McDowell and husband, Wade Booker McDowell and children: Alexandra Diane (“Lexie”), Aaron Booker and Brody Raymond, all of Hill City; Robyn Marie (Boyd) Scantlin and husband Jonathan Lee Scantlin and children: Abigail Lee and Alexander John (“A.J.”), all of Overland Park, KS; Kristin Diane (Boyd) Kemerling and husband Capt. William Erik Kemerling and children: Lauren Suzanne, Annabelle Jennings and William Quinn, all of Manhattan.

Richard Dexter Boyd and wife, Mary Beth (Brooks) Boyd, Norton and their children: Lawrence Alexander Boyd, Colorado Springs, CO and Rebecca Anne (Boyd) Allen and daughter: Emily Iris, London, England.

Mary Frances (Boyd) Logback and husband, James Edward Logback, Hill City, and their children: Frank James Logback and children: Zachary James and Sierra Marie, Lenexa, KS; Lydia Christine (Logback) Graham and husband Bryan Graham and their children: Megan Dawn, Lyndsie Christine and Denny James, all of Westborough, MA; Steven Edward Logback and wife, Donna Jean (Yeager) Logback and their children: Elizabeth Jean and Logan Edward, all of Manhattan.

Elizabeth Folwell (Boyd) James and husband, Wynne James, III, Bethesda, MD, and their children: Benjamin Alexander James, Los Angeles, CA, and Caroline Amory James, Cambridge, MA.

Nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends also survive.

She married Frank W. “Bus” Boyd, Jr. on September 1, 1934, in Esbon, KS. He preceded her in death on July 16, 1972.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and four sisters: Edith (Dexter) Rice Round, Lydia Helen Dexter, Jean McDougal (Dexter) Lutz and Roberta Amory (Dexter) Adamson.

Mary and husband, Bus, were 1934 graduates of Kansas State College in Manhattan, KS. Prior to their marriage, Bus was a teacher and coach at Logan High School and Mary was a home economics teacher at Kensington High School.

After their marriage, they moved to Mankato where they were active partners in publishing their weekly newspaper, The Jewell County Record. After World War II broke out, Bus enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as an officer on a ship in the Pacific Ocean. During his absence, Mary was a good mother to their four children while also working with his parents, Frank, Sr. and Mamie Boyd, in publishing the newspaper.

When Bus returned after the war, he became editor of the paper and she resumed her role as society editor. Frank, Sr. and Mamie continued to help publish the paper until their deaths.

Bus had an untimely death at age 60 in 1972 and Mary became the editor, continuing in this position for 19 years until the paper sold in 1991. During this time, she was active in the Mankato community as a member of the Mankato Community Development Board, Mankato Housing Authority, Mankato Endowment Association, and a board member of the State Exchange Bank.

A highlight of Mary’s newspaper career was being able to celebrate the Jewell County Record’s 50th anniversary in 1990.

Mary was an enthusiastic supporter of Mankato school activities and was recognized when the Mankato High School dedicated their 1996 annual to her.

Mary was a loyal member of many organizations including the Daughters of the American Revolution for 65 years, PEO for 72 years, Kansas Press Association for 45 years, Mankato Chamber of Commerce, General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Kansas, Minerva Club of Mankato, for 59 years, Kilte bridge club the VFW Auxiliary, as well as “Watch Your Weight” and “Birthday” clubs of Mankato.

She was a member of the Kansas State University Alumni Board of Directors from 1979-1982, a charter member of the Kansas State University Home Economics Alumni, a member and former president of the Kansas State University Golden K Club and honorary member of the Mankato High School Honor Society.

Mary was a member of the Harmony United Methodist Church and the Rebecca Circle in Mankato and in recent years continued her worship at the Hill City United Methodist Church and Dawson Place ecumenical services in Hill City.

Mary enjoyed her Mankato home, which she likened to her family’s Georgia residence, and loved flowers and gardening. Family and friends enjoyed her home’s garden room and its “queen chair” for many photographs.

While at K-State, she became a member of the Chi Omega social sorority.

When she was 90 years young, Mary was honored at a K-State basketball game as the “KSU Fan of the Game”. She was very pleased when her oldest great-grandchild enrolled at Kansas State University in the fall of 2010 making the fifth generation of K-Staters from her family.

A celebration of life service for Mary Boyd will be held on her 98th birthday at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 5, 2011, at the Harmony United Methodist Church, Mankato, Kansas, with Pastors Aaron Madondo and Gerry Sharp officiating. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato.

Visitation will be on Friday, February 4, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., at the Melby Mortuary, Mankato, and at the church on Saturday morning before the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jewell County Hospital or Harmony United Methodist Church, both in Mankato, or Dawson Place or Hill City United Methodist Church, both in Hill City.