Pearl L. Boyce

Pearlie Lee Boyce, 106, North Manchester, IN died at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, December 11, 2011 at Timbercrest Healthcare Center. She lived a life that was not only long but one of caring and contribution. She was born in Oklahoma Territory February 24, 1905 to Henry & Minnie Belle (Fillmore) Holderread. She was the fourth of thirteen children (two died in infancy) born into a devout Church of the Brethren family who were early settlers of Oklahoma Territory near Cushing, OK. Childhood memories on the farm included trading vegetables with the Indians as their farm fronted onto an Indian path. They produced almost all their own food except for sugar and flour. A highlighted moment in the life of the children was when someone received a new pair of shoes. She recalls that during cotton season they all picked cotton on Saturdays and before and after school. Sundays were always devoted to church and as a day of rest. The 11 surviving children kept in close contact even though scattered across the United States and sometimes out of the country. Education was also important to this family and almost all of them completed a college education with some completing advanced degrees. Pearl was a graduate of McPherson (KS) College in 1931 with a B.S. in Home Economics. In 1934 she married Wallace Boyce (1898-1954) a Methodist minister in the Oklahoma Conference (originally West and East). They served churchs primarily in western and northern Oklahoma until his death. As a young child Wallace had had scarlet fever and subsequently had heart damage leading to an early death. After completing college, Pearl worked with the Santee Indians in Nebraska for a year. Additionally she taught grade school for 10 years both before and during her marriage at the Stillwater, OK. At First Methodist Church she was a secretary for 13 years and a designated church visitor for 3 years. At one time she had each of her children as students. The family moved to Stillwater to enable her two children, Paul and Dona to complete their college educations. In her later years she moved to Wheaton, IL to the home of her son Paul where she lived for 14 years. In 1995 she moved to the Church of the Brethren Retirement Center, Timbercrest, in North Manchester, Indiana. Pearl was always an active person and especially liked gardening of vegetables and flowers, reading and especially sewing and quilting. From her mid 80's to mid 90's she made a quilt a year. She made all of her own clothes until she was 94 years old. While in Timbercrest she continued to sew and took in minor alterations for the residents and was a visitor to residents in health care as long as she was able. Surviving is two children, Paul Boyce, Wheaton, IL and Dona Boyce-Manoukian (Paul), Arlington, VA. Grandchildren, Mark Manoukian (Alyson), great-granddaughters, Zoe and Lily Manoukian, Columbus, OH; Mikael Manoukian (Emily), Arlington, VA; Marne Manoukian, Washington, D.C. Sisters, Doris Miller (Olden Mitchell), North Manchester, IN; Barbara Smith, Newton, KS; Leona Ward, Ponca City, OK and many nieces and nephews. Her stated wish was for a service to be considered a time of graduation and celebration. Services will be held at Timbercrest Chapel, 2201 East Street, North Manchester, IN on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in Oklahoma. For those who wish to honor the memory of Pearl Boyce, memorial contributions may be mad to Charitable Assistance Fund at Timbercrest Senior Living Community, PO Box 501, North Manchester, IN 46962. The family has entrusted McKee Mortuary, North Manchester, IN with final arrangements.