Cratice Boyd

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 27, 2010

Cratice Georginne (Smith) Boyd, 92, of Austin passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, May 21, 2010.
Cratice was born Sept. 21, 1917, in Pittsburg, Kan., to William C. and Eda (Edwards) Smith. She moved to Austin in 1923 with her mother and four brothers following the death of her father. After graduation from Austin High School in 1937, she used the drafting skills learned as one of the first female drafting and shop students at AHS in her work at the Austin City Engineers office. Cratice married James Roulston Boyd on June 7, 1942.
She was a longtime member of the First Methodist Church of Austin. Cratice was active in supporting the original mission of the Hormel Home during her 40 years as a Y Matron. She was an active volunteer for Comforcare Good Samaritan Center and continued her lifelong learning goals through her involvement with an extension group. She was an accomplished seamstress and cook. She was known for her SPAM contest entries, winning bread recipes and endless batches of cookies. 
Cratice is survived by her son, Mark A. Boyd of Honolulu, Hawaii; daughter, Jane (Bart) Rust of Loveland, Colo. and brother, Joe Smith of Austin. Among her nieces and nephews, she especially treasured her relationship with nieces, Jacquelyn (Richard) Christgau of Austin and Judy (Frank) Wencl of Blooming Prairie.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James Boyd; brothers, Benford, Eldon, and William Smith.
A memorial service will be held Friday, June 4, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Austin, with the Rev. Patricia M. Toschak officiating. Visitation will be at the church for one hour before the service. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred to the Hormel Nature Center.
Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements

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