Mary Florence Boyd

Mary Florence Boyd, born on March 8, 1933, daughter of Corrine and Rush M. Boyd, died on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. She has returned home to be reunited with her beloved family and dear and precious friends who predeceased her. Mary graduated from Scott High School, in 1951, where she was Scott’s Queen, Senior President, and voted the All-Scott Girl.

From 1951 to 1955, Mary studied elementary education at Bowling Green State University. She sang and traveled with the university’s acapella choir and became a member of Delta Gamma Sorority. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education at Bowling Green in 1955, she began her teaching career at Fulton School. At Fulton, she taught third, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. In 1964, she was awarded a sabbatical leave by the Toledo Public School system to advance her study in elementary education for a year.

She became a graduate student at the University of Toledo and in 1966 received a master’s degree in education, majoring in supervision and administration. In 1965, Mary was appointed as assistant Principal of Longfellow School. She was Principal of Ryder School in 1969, and in 1972 she became Principal of Heather Downs School from where she retired in 1985.

Mary’s interests varied from art and music to reading, European and United States traveling, to collecting antiques, gardening, and sports. But her greatest passions were children, their development, and their education.

In 1970, she was the first president of the Delta Beta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. She was a member of the Toledo Museum of Art, Phi Delta Kappa, Toledo Metro Parks, Ohio Retired Teacher Association, and numerous charitable organizations. In 1999, she established an endowed scholarship fund in honor of Sister R. Lucius, SGM, at St. Vincent – Mercy Medical Center.

In her retirement years, Mary volunteered for the Alzheimer’s Association, Read for Literacy, the Palliative Care Unit of St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, as well as the surgery waiting room. She was recognized for Outstanding Volunteerism by the Association of Fund-Raising Professionals in 2003.

Mary was predeceased by her parents and her brothers, James E. Boyd, William T. Davis, Raymond Davis, Harry W. Davis, and many dear cherished friends. She is survived by her nephew, James E. Boyd, II, William R. Davis (Kelly); nieces, Mary Pat Zygula (Dennis), Judy Alfieri, Kathy Jakubowski (Larry); many great and great-great nieces and nephews; and special niece and friend, Kristen Lehrer Dunbar.

Mary valued her deep and long-lasting friendships. They were all beloved- young, old, and contemporary friendships to whom she was aunt, sister, companion, and confidant.

Following her wishes, interment will be private at Toledo Memorial Park. It is also her wish that any contribution in her honor be a gift of self by helping a child or donating quality time to the elderly. Arrangements were entrusted to Walker Funeral Home, Toledo (419-841-2422).