Jimmy Wayne Boyd, age 83, of Oakville, MO, passed away peacefully on January 23rd.
Jim was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He was a proud graduate of Western Kentucky University. Jim had a distinguished career in the federal government as a member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Grace (née Kessler), children Jack (Jennifer) Boyd, Joe (Tammy) Boyd, Jennifer Thurston, Michael (Tracey) Mayer, Michelle (Shawn) O’Connell, and Melissa (Charles) Miles. He was the proud grandfather of Jessica (Tim), Jacob (Abigail), Jack W, Joshua, Megan, Christopher, Clara (Tommy), Amelia, Lydia, Michael, Maria, Jack, Carson, Dominic, and Blake, great-grandfather to Greyson, Dani, Amora, and Caleb. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James and Betsy Boyd, and his beloved son, Jeffrey (surviving Tina Gion) Boyd.
A member of Queen of All Saints Parish and served as a former Parish Council President, Jim was a devoted family man, avid fisherman, history buff, car enthusiast, and lifelong do-it-yourselfer. He never shied away from a home improvement project, loved playing cards, dancing with his wife, spending time with family, and never missed an opportunity to cheer on his grandkids at their sporting and school events. His honest nature, endless energy, generous spirit, and sense of humor were evident in all that he did.
Jim’s legacy of faith, family, and work ethic will live on through the many lives he touched and all who were privileged to know him.
Services; Funeral Mass at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church (Telegraph Rd.) on Sat. Jan. 31 at 10AM. Private interment Holy Family Cemetery (Arnold, MO). Visitation at Kutis So Co (5255 Lemay Ferry) on Fri. 1/30 from 4-8PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Society of Saint Vincent DePaul conference of Queen of All Saints or the American Heart Association in Jim’s memory.
So very sorry for your loss! Prayers for your family during this time! Your dad was a wonderful man and will be deeply missed!
Condolences to Grace and all of your family. He was the best supervisor I ever worked with and was such a great person. He was very well thought of by everyone. He will be greatly missed but you have so many memories to share with each other.
We all have people in our history that changed our lives forever — Jimmy Boyd was that man for me. He died peacefully on January 23rd. He literally changed the trajectory of my career in an instant with a simple decision, one that is rarely exercised today.
I’ve told this story countless times, but I’ll tell it here again to honor Jimmy.
The Defense Mapping Agency hired me in St. Louis in 1995 after I had waited 5 years for the call. In the mean time, I had started my career with NOAA in Norfolk and Silver Spring having achieved a GS-12. During that time I had done some serious digital transformation work for NOAA, bringing some of the earliest automation in geospatial.
DMA called and offered me a GS-7. But it was our family’s chance to come back to St. Louis, and I couldn’t turn it down.
So we moved back, and I started my work, which unfortunately meant I had to endure 12 weeks of remedial, entry level classwork, even though I had worked for 5 years and achieved a higher level of seniority than even the class instructors. Bureaucracy at work.
After about a month of torture in class, a senior executive walked in and gave a short talk about the office he ran which was the technology office. Like many that give these talks, he said he had an open door policy where anyone could make an appointment and come talk to him. While many executives say this, few actually mean it.
The next day I found his office and made an appointment. When the appointment came, I took a portfolio of all of the applications I had created, the amount of code I had written, the impact it had, and the awards I had won. Then I gave him the contact info of my supervisors and a NOAA Admiral and said you can call these folks to verify. He did just that.
THE NEXT DAY, Jimmy Boyd came and got me out of class and put me to work building a system that would replace a failing $30M program. He introduced me to Chuck McGaugh, and put Chuck and I in a small office in the basement of Bldg 32 in which together and a small team we assembled, successfully replaced that system 10 months later.
He restored my grade to GS-12.
He direct hired Jim Lewis, my lifelong friend, who still works at NGA today.
He opened doors, connected, restored, and put me to work. Isn’t that what executives should do? It seems like it’s harder and harder for an SES to do these kinds of things today.
Every time I’ve seen Jimmy since he retired we reminisced about that moment. Every time I thanked him. I know his family was very proud of him and he was of them.
Here’s to Jimmy Wayne Boyd from Louisville, Kentucky. Thank you.
Only knew Jimmy for a short time through work, but he was a good guy, friendly and engaging. My condolences to the Family.
Jimmy was one of the supervisors for whom I worked for a short period of time when I was in the Production Office (known as GDLP). He was always an exuberant, confident person. Surely he is at peace now after a life well-lived. May our good Lord Jesus bless Grace and his whole family with that same peace, knowing he is in good hands. Wishing all of you strength and courage in the days ahead.
To Grace Boyd: Memories of you at the Wash DC DMA in the 90’s and saw your husband’s obituary. So Sorry for your loss, your kids loss and the grandchildren. I didn’t know Jimmie, but he had to be a good guy you married.
Grace, So Very Sorry for your loss. Your former next-door neighbor, Ron and Jean Woodson
I am honored to have worked with both Jimmy and Grace. My deepest condolences to Grace and the entire family. Jimmy will be missed by a lot of people.
Jim was the one who planned events for group. We met every month for our card club We have an empty spot now that we feel deeply. It won’t be the same.
Grace please join us at our monthly cards games. I pray for your family and friends missing this kind thoughtful man.
We have know Jim and Grace ever since our daughter Tammy married Joe. We have spent many family functions with Jim and Grace and have wonderful memories of him. He will be missed by all that know him. Our condolences and love go out to all of the family. Unfortunately we are not able to be there for our family during their time of loss, Covid is keeping us isolated. Love to all