Local woman placed value on fraternities and sororities

2/10/2009

Mary Carr Boyd, of Perrysburg, a former president of Alpha Phi women's International Fraternity and a member of several Perrysburg boards, died Sunday at Heartland of Perrysburg while under the care of Hospice of Northwest Ohio. She was 87.

Her husband, C. Robert Boyd, said the cause of death was not immediately known. She had incurred several health complications after complaining of chest pains and breathing difficulties on Jan. 10, he said.

The couple were married for 66 years, falling in love as undergraduates at the University of Missouri.

"She was a beautiful woman. We just clicked," Mr. Boyd said. "She was the best part of my life."

Born Dec. 28, 1921 in Aurora, Ill., Mrs. Boyd grew up in Chicago and also attended DePauw University.

Mrs. Boyd came from a family who believed strongly in the value of fraternities and sororities. She followed her mother and several relatives as a member of Alpha Phi and was an adviser to Bowling Green State University's chapter after she was married.

Mrs. Boyd was later district governor of the organization as well as vice president of its national executive board and chairman of the group's board of trustees.

She served two terms as Alpha Phi's international president.

Mrs. Boyd also was chairman of the Alpha Phi Foundation and the Alpha Phi International Foundation.

While living in Iowa, she was a county chairman of the Iowa Women's Republican Party.

In northwest Ohio, Mrs. Boyd was a founder of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church of Perrysburg. She served on the boards of Historic Perrysburg Inc., Perrysburg Revitalization, Inc., the American Cancer Society, and Planned Parenthood.

She also was once president of the Perrysburg Country Garden Club.

"She was a loving person, a loyal friend," Mr. Boyd said.

In addition to her husband, C. Robert Boyd, Mrs. Boyd's survivors include her sons, C. Robert Boyd, Jr., and William; seven grandchildren; and a brother, John Carr.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church of Perrysburg, 871 East Boundary St. Visitation is from 9:30 a.m. until the service. The family suggests tributes to the Alpha Phi Foundation, 1930 Sherman Ave., Evanston, Ill., or to the endowment fund at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church of Perrysburg.