Joy Elaine (Thurston) Boyer, 85, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 19th at Linden Court in North Platte, NE. She was born in Hyannis, NE January 25, 1941 to Charles and Pauline (Gottlob) Thurston.
Joy was the third of four children: she had two older brothers, Bill and Johnny, and a younger sister, Marilyn. Joy attended school in Hyannis and graduated with the high school class of 1958. Aspiring to be a teacher, Joy immediately attended the Nebraska State Teacher’s College in Chadron, NE where she also played the clarinet in the band. After earning her teaching certificate in 1959, Joy taught elementary school for two years at District No. 5 in Whitman, NE. On June 25th,1961, Joy married Leonard Earl Boyer and the couple briefly moved to the state of Washington where Leonard was serving his second stint in the U.S. Army. The couple then returned to the Sandhills where they lived, raised two children, and worked on several ranches until their retirement when they moved into Hyannis. Joy was involved in many organizations including the Nebraska Order of the Eastern Star, D.A.R., the American Legion, a local bowling league, and she was a mentor for several local youths. Leonard and Joy both volunteered at community events like the Grant Co. Fair and Windmill Days. Joy was an active member of the Calvary Episcopal Church in Hyannis, and after her move to North Platte, Joy attended the Episcopal Church of Our Savior. Her faith never wavered and helped her through her husband’s passing in May of 2017, her move to Linden Estates in North Platte, and her failing health in recent months. Joy enjoyed gardening, cake decorating, and traveling. However, the greatest joy in her life were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was looking forward to welcoming a new great-grandson this coming June.
Joy is survived by her son Bud (Kim) Boyer of Stapleton; grand-daughters Brianna (Devon) Jones and great-grandson Jackson of Stapleton; Jennifer Boyer of McCook, and Nikki Boyer of Stapleton. Joy is also survived by a daughter and her family. Other survivors include Joy’s brother Bill Thurston of Hyannis, her sister Marilyn (Warren) Herman of Ogallala; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Pete and Myrna Boyer, Mick and Midge Harding, Willard and Betty Boyer, and Bonnie Hilderhoff of Mullen; Vi Kommers and Gary and Joni Boyer of Mesa, AZ, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Preceding Joy in death were her husband, her parents, and her father and mother-in-law Clarence and Jean Boyer; her brother Johnny; sisters-in law Twila Thurston and Gladys Smith (late husband’s Bob Smith and Russell Simonson); brothers-in-law Ed Hilderhoff and Jim Kommers; and nephew Ted Hilderhoff.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Grant County Fire and Rescue Services or to the Calvary Episcopal Church of Hyannis. On line condolences and live streaming of the service may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.