Mary Gene Boyce passed away on February 14, 2020. Mary was born on December 29, 1930 to Samuel and Emma (Parris) Johnson in Houston, Texas. She was an only child of only children and was greatly loved by her parents. Mary graduated as Valedictorian of Lamar High School in 1948 and with honors from the University of Texas in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in English. After college, she worked for Humble Oil Company as a paralegal for many decades into their merger with Exxon.
She married Irving W. “Mickey” Boyce March 3, 1967 and they were happily married for 32 years until Mickey passed. Mary and Mickey greatly enjoyed Matagorda, the birthplace of Mary’s mother, and the couple spent much of their free time there. While Mary and Mickey never had children, they spent a great deal of time with their nieces, nephew, great-nieces and great-nephews enjoying the great outdoors in Matagorda and embarking together on numerous trips around the world, occasionally taking lucky family members with them. Mary and Mickey traveled to England, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and many other places, and always brought back mementos for their family. Her love of travel instilled a sense of wanderlust in her nieces and great-nieces who fondly remember their adventures with their aunt and uncle.
Mary was also an avid patron of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural Science, the Alley Theater, and the Houston Zoo. She took her family members to museums, plays and performances, and the zoo on numerous occasions to expose them to the arts and sciences. She loved folk music and attended many folk music groups, concerts, and festivals. Mary spent her retirement encouraging her family’s love of art and music and volunteering with local organizations.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents Sam and Em Johnson, her husband Mickey Boyce, and her nephew, Daniel Boyce. She is survived by her nieces Katherine Boyce Gardner and her husband Gary, Trish Harrop, Ann Harrop Pfeiffer and her husband Dennis, Engel Harrop, and Renee Harrop Cates. She is also survived by great nieces and nephews Roxanne Prichard and her husband Jim Horwitz, Andrea Prichard, Ben Pfeiffer and his wife Angela, Matt Pfeiffer and his wife Kristin, James Heath, Patrick Heath, Michael Cates, Shelby Gardner Ramos and her wife Angelica, Hayden Gardner, Lara Gardner, and ten great-great nieces and nephews. Mary was loved greatly by her family and will be fondly remembered for the joy she brought to their lives. Her family will hold a private celebration of her life later this year.
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