Ernest “Louis” Boyce
June 30, 1932 – August 31, 2013
Ernest Louis Boyce was born in Lawton, Oklahoma to Tressie and Marion Boyce in 1932 and was the youngest of three boys. He lived part of his life in town and rode his bicycle all over the town and attended grade school at Lincoln Elementary not far from his home. He enjoyed music and played symbols in the rhythm band. While a teenager his family moved to the country east of town and bought a farm. In Junior High he played basketball on the State Champion Junior High team in 1946-47. Then raising animals became a highlight in his life. He received a state honor as Junior Master Farmer in FFA in 1950 and had many prize animals to show. Louis also was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Scholastic Award as a FFA student in 1950. His FFA Team of four won three Statewide Livestock judging contests with 300-500 contestants. He also won first place individual in two of them. He believed the FFA program gave him the opportunity to speak publicly and how to win at life’s many opportunities.
Louis attended Cameron University of Lawton, Oklahoma with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognition and then went on to the University of Oklahoma where he obtained his degree in Petroleum Engineering and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army.
He met Betty (Wood) while he was in college but it was after college that he proposed and married. They made their first home in Seminole, Oklahoma. From there the oil business, The Texas Company, took him to Drumright, Oklahoma. The army stepped in and Louis was assigned as an artillery officer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma near his home town. Their first child, Eric Louis, was born while serving in the army.
Out of the Army they moved on to Winfield, Kansas to continue his career in the oil business. After two daughters were born Jenna Jolene and Katherine Elizabeth, a move was made to Wichita, Kansas where the Texas Company became Texaco.
Then with his parents health failing Louis requested a transfer to a nearby city to be near his folks. He drove from Lawton to Wichita Falls, Texas five days a week to work. He use to kid about checking the farmer’s fences while he drove each day. He also picked up some interesting hitchhikers. Some even turned out to be college students at Cameron who were members of the church. While living at Lawton the 8th and Lee church selected him as a deacon in 1970.
Louis became a Registered professional Engineer in Texas in 1972 and in Oklahoma in 1973. After 19 years with Texaco, a job change and a move to Edmond, Oklahoma was made in 1974. While in Edmond Louis changed companies a few times and then began his own company, in 1983. Louis and Betty attend Edmond Church of Christ and was an elder for many years.
Louis and Betty have three grown children, Eric Louis Boyce, Jenna Jolene Smith and Katherine Elizabeth Warn. Eric lives in Houston, Texas with his wife, Hilda; Jenna lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with her husband Brent; Katherine lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her husband Darren. They each have three children. Eric’s son, Matthew, lives in Houston, TX his daughter Jessica, lives in Chicago, IL and his son, Sean is living in Los Angeles, CA. Jenna’s son, Jared, married to Katee, and father of Asher, lives in Edmond, OK; her son Nick married to Christy lives in Edmond, OK; and her daughter Erin married to Colter is living in Edmond, OK. Katherine’s son, Kris (married to Lee) and the father of Brooks and Lila lives in Medford, Mass, son Acea married to Lauren and the father of Ava Belle , A.J. and Banks lives in Edmond, OK; and daughter, Megan lives in Oklahoma City, OK.
Louis was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease which he battled quite well but then later found out he had Celiac Disease to go along with it. His wisdom, guidance, generosity, integrity, gentleness, kindness and compassion will be missed by all who knew him, especially his family.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Edmond Church of Christ with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Formal visitation will be held on Monday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond, OK.
Betty Esther and I are truly sorry for your loss and will keep you and your family in our prayers. You and Louis were and inspiration to us during our stay at Edmond COC and We know that he will truly be missed.
Regards
Lloyd J. and Esther L. Davis
Thank you, Lloyd and Esther, the encouragement of friends is so
welcome at this time….and we will carry our sweet memories of
Louis in our hearts.
I am praying for your family. I have wonderful memories of Louis and his kindness while growing up at the Edmond COC. He will be truly missed.
Jamey DuBoise
Thank you Jamey. Our families have some wonderful church memories…love to them all! Thank you for your sweet
words of comfort.
Love,
KATHY,.
Betty and family,
Norma and I are thinking of you in your loss, and want you to know how much we admired Louis as an elder and a man. He was so kind and gentle, and we have fond memories of our time in Edmond and association with you, Betty, and Louis.
Leonard & Norma Stevenson
Ozark, MO
Thank you so much Leonard and Linda for thinking of us and we appreciate your kind words.
Dear Betty and family,
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.Louis was truly a kind man and great-example to all who knew him. He will certainly be missed. We send our deepest sympathy to you.
With Love
Frances King
Maury &Andy
Frances, you know we both loved you so much and thank you
so much for the kind words….
I know Maury would be here for you too if he were able he spoke of you and Louis many times always in kindness and caring about both of you.
Yes, Maury was very close to Louis and I at times and are sorry his
health issues got in the way and so glad you were able to cope. We
love you for that and your patience was remarkable. Hug me again
I will need it!
Kathy,
It’s a surreal experience losing a father. I’m sure you made him proud giving him Grand Children who have moved on to successful lives of their own. Bur if you think about it, he is more alive than ever through pieces of himself that he’s passed on through his children, grand children and now through you & Darren his Great Grand Children. What a successful live he’s lived. I think he gave you his kindness, creativity & intelligence not to mention the exact same smile.
Be strong,
Wade Inman
Wade,
I am touched by your sweet compasionate words. I will miss my dad in so many ways for myself but I think of my children and his great granchildren and the true love for my mom it was true faithful love that he gave so generously. I will miss him greatly. I am looking forward to the day we will all see each other again. Thank you for your kind words. It means so much to me.
Love,
Kathy
Kathy,
It’s a surreal experience losing a father. I’m sure you made him proud giving him Grand Children who have moved on to successful lives of their own. But if you think about it, he is more alive than ever through pieces of himself that he’s passed on through his children, grand children and now through you & Darren his Great Grand Children. What a successful life he’s lived. I think he gave you his kindness, creativity & intelligence not to mention the exact same smile.
Be strong,
Wade Inman
Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. We have many fond memories of our associations together. Bob and Nova Elliott
Bob and Nova, we have observed your family and their ever fondness
of the two of you and we were also blessed with such loving children.
At a time like this they are the glue to keep things all together along
with the blessings of our God. We will all be together again!
Betty
I am sad to learn that of one of my greatest influences in life as well as work ethic has left this earth. I will never forget the long Kansas drives where Louis taught me so many things.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family on this day.
Fermon, a smile comes to my face with these thoughts and I so
appreciate you expressing them. We expected his battle to end
but you will never be ready for it. God has brought him home and
the love and respect he earned will live in our hearts till we meet
him again. Keep us in your prayers…..we miss him so.
Love,
Betty
Dear Kathy and Family,
I am so very sorry for your loss. I know how you’re feeling and I wish there was something I could do or say that would help take some of the pain away. Your dad must have been a wonderful man….just look at the amazing daughter that he raised. I’m sure you made him proud everyday. Keep all the memories that you made together close to your heart and talk about him as much as you can. Continue to honor everything he stood for and taught you and you’ll always have him by your side. I pray that God blesses you and your family with strength to get through this very difficult time. Love you, Kathy.