Edward Herbert Boyer

Edward Herbert Boyer returned to our Heavenly Father on October 28, 2002 after a valiant struggle against cancer. He was born in Springville, UT on Feb. 21, 1910 to John S. Boyer Jr. and Susanna B. Jarrett. He married Vesta Josephine Frost on November 15, 1933 in the Salt Lake Temple. They were blessed with 12 children: RaeAnn Collier (Robert), Milan Frost (Cathy), Marlin Edward (Pauline), Jorgen Jarrett (Carolyn), LeGrande (Nancy), Josephine Anthony (Joseph-deceased), Leeta Gilbert (R. Dan), Kern Phillip/Peter Koyote (Sandy), Valerie Gukeisen (Darwin), Seth Peter (Angie), Wanda June Boyer, and Creed H. (deceased) plus one foster daughter, Dot Upshaw Nez (Jerry). The Boyers have 52 grandchildren, 106 great-grandchildren and innumerable relatives and friends. One of Edward's last wishes was to encourage his posterity to keep the commandments. Edward was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a child he went with his parents on a mission to the Sioux Indians in Montana and as a young man he served a mission to the Netherlands. He was a scoutmaster, bishop's counselor, bishop, high councilman, temple worker, Sunday School teacher and president. During retirement he and Vesta served missions to North Carolina and to the Swiss Temple. Edward operated Boyer Coal and Feed, a family farm/business. His community service included many years in the Farm Bureau and the Kiwanis Club; Springville City Council, 1948-1952; and many soil conservation and irrigation water boards. He and Vesta supported the Springville Folk Festival from its beginning by hosting dancers in their home. His memory will be cherished by all he served and his wit and humor will be sorely missed. Visit the family at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South, Springville from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2002 or at the church one-hour prior to services. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 1, 2002 at 11 a.m. at the Main Street chapel located at 451 South Main. Interment will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. The family wishes to thank the staff at Hearthstone Manor and also the Hospice personnel who helped take care of Edward for the past year. Source: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/945829/Obituary-Edward-Herbert-Boyer.html?pg=all

Edward Herbert Boyer was born February 21, 1910 in Springville, Utah. His mother chose the name Edward for him, but his sisters chose Herbert, possibly because Victor Herbert was a famous songwriter at that time but they always said, “Oh, we just liked the name.” When Edward was born, his eight-year-old brother complained, “It will be six years before he can milk a cow!” His other brothers and sisters thought Edward was too inquisitive for his own good and especially for theirs with all his questions. One of the family said to him, “Please forget the word ‘why’ and listen the first time for a while.” When he was nine, he went with his parents (who were called to serve an LDS mission) and sister Mary B. to live and serve on an Indian Reservation in Montana. They lived at Chicken Hill close to Wolf Point, Montana. His Indian name was Little Gray Buffalo. He learned to do an Indian dance and had lots of fun playing with the Indian children. He had a small pony that he loved to ride and would share turns. In the winter he and the Indian boys would have a good time on sleds. He had been taught to ride horses and ponies when he was small. He enjoyed doing so, but he was also expected to use the skill to help the family. Delivering butter that his mother made was one of his first jobs. Later he herded cattle with his brothers and helped care for the farmland. In his early teens he was sent often to a ranch his family had in the canyon. He would check the cattle, the fences, and the potatoes; stay at the ranch cabin overnight, and return home the next day. He took a flash light with him and enjoyed reading at night there in the cabin. One night, after having read of mines and treasures, he took the flashlight, saddled the horse, and went exploring. After a bit, the impression came, “If anything should happen to you, no one would know where to look for you.” He returned to the ranch cabin thankful that no accident had happened. Another event that influenced him was when he and a cousin were playing with an unloaded gun. At one point, he aimed toward the farmhouse where his mother was just coming out the door and he playfully started to pull the trigger. He felt an unseen hand move the gun in another direction, and when it fired, the boys found the gun was loaded after all. He felt very blessed to have been saved from tragedy and discouraged any playing with guns. One skill that he developed was making a high, sharp whistle by blowing over his bottom lip. He went to school and learned to enjoy reading, though it was not easy for him. One year his sister was his teacher. When he was on the reservation, his father and the other elders were his teachers. The next year back in Springville, he was given a promotion and was able to skip a grade. After he graduated from Springville High School, he served an LDS mission to the Netherlands. He loved serving the people there though few people listened to his message. He spent much of his time training local brethren to take over church responsibilities and bringing the church records up to date. He became fluent in the Dutch language, many did not believe he was an American (He kept up his skills and when he was in Switzerland as a Senior missionary later in his life, he was able to use his Dutch language skills and people complimented his ability). A few years after his mission to Holland, he met Vesta Frost at a returned missionary activity that she attended with one of his former missionary companions, Fred Weenig. Fred felt privileged to introduce them and they kept a friendship all of their lives. Edward wanted to go to college, but the funds were not available, so he began farming and trucking with his father and brothers and took a correspondence course in Electricity. He continued in those vocations all his life. He sold coal and feed and raised corn, alfalfa, and farm animals. He used his electrical skills mostly to serve others in help at church. He had many adventures driving the coal trucks up and down the canyon. Edward also helped for 18 months to mix the concrete for the Geneva Steel plant which was built west of Orem, Utah. Edward was active in the Farm Bureau and in civic duties. In 1992, he and his wife were honored for their contributions to the city by being the Grand Marshals in the Springville Days parade. Edward’s church service included time in the YMMIA, teaching, many years as Scoutmaster (he was one of the first boys to earn the Eagle award in Utah), bishop’s counselor, bishop (for nearly two decades), high councilor, magazine representative, missionary (in Holland as a young man and in North Carolina and then the Swiss Temple with his wife), and temple worker. --remembrances compiled by RaeAnn Boyer Collier (daughter) & Jolene Collier DeFranco (granddaughter)