Betty Ann Boyd

Betty Ann Childers, was born on February 16, 1947 in Galesburg, Illinois to parents, Robert and Alice Sloan. Following their divorce, she was adopted at the age of 23 months old by her parents Floyd Childers and Violet Childers, changing her last name to Childers. Her mother died 2 years later from breast cancer. Her father was physically handicap with a back condition to where he couldn’t stand up right; yet he was a highly skilled clock master builder. Betty Ann had the fondest memories of her dad as being the most loving and caring father a child could have. During some of her difficult days, Betty Ann lived in a home for girls for 2 years and also her grandmother another 2 years. Her grandmother was also very loving and caring and taught her many important lessons she says she cherished during her lifetime. Her father passed away in 1977.

Betty Ann graduated from Galesburg High School and attended the local junior college. At age 18, she married Patrick Peck and has her first, and only, child, Michael (Mike) John Peck, On December 04, 1966, who now lives in Round Rock, TX. Betty Ann and Patrick divorced when Mike was 3 years old.

Betty Ann remarried a young man, Buck, and a short time later they moved to Waco, TX. Those who knew Betty Ann know how she has always had a caring heart. And while there in Waco, she entered school to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Unfortunately, it was interrupted when her husband, Buck, fell several stories from a building he was working on and became a quadriplegic. She cared for him some 10 months before he passed away in 1973.

Betty Ann returned to Galesburg, IL and entered school there again, but since the RN school was full, she elected instead to complete schooling and come a license practicing Nurse (LPN), a program allowing her to begin her 30-year career in the nursing profession.

In 1977, Betty Ann remarried a young man, Joe Maher, and they moved to Waco, TX sometime later. After a few years they moved back to Port Byron, IL; she continued working in her nursing profession. Her husband, Joe, was a union welder. He traveled a lot for reasons unknown became addicted to alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately, Joe took his own life in November 1985.

Betty Ann moved again to Waco, TX and shortly afterwards decided to move to Austin. She worked the majority of her 30 years nursing profession with the Austin Regional Clinic, the biggest part in the field of ENT (Ears, Nose and Throat). She was highly skilled in the nursing details of ENT surgery and care. She also headed up some of the clinics’ outreach, including yearly visitation to the Texas State supported living center in Austin, celebrating Christmas with the residents with intellectual disabilities. Betty Ann retired from nursing in February 2011.

Following the Thanksgiving holiday in 1997, Betty Ann met her husband, Larry Boyd. They fell in love with each other immediately, and on October 8, 1998 were married on the romantic beach of Magens Bay in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin islands. Each 10-year anniversary thereafter they returned to Magens Bay and renewed their marriage vows. Before they married, Betty Ann had several close lady friends who shared many wonderful times together. Shortly after she met Larry, they arranged for Betty Ann to bring him to lunch at the oasis restaurant where they were able to meet him and give their approval. Which they did! Betty Ann and Larry would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this coming October.

In her marriage to Larry, Betty Ann, who has 1 child and 3 grandchildren, became the caring loving “Granny” to her own and 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren on Larry’s side. They all just loved their “Granny”, and she loved each one of them as though they were her own blood and kin!

Betty Ann was a Christian, baptized into Christ, and an active devoted member of the Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in Austin. She taught children’s classes, co-led many of the ladies retreats, cared for the assisted hearing equipment, provided team support to the chores of the church’s annual Family Retreats, and showered her love and big smile on many of the elderly and other fellow Christian members. She was an inspiration to so many, especially as she bravely lived and battled her serious medical conditions during her last 3 years.

Betty Ann fought a good fight and passed into the arms of her lord during the early hours of Tuesday, July 18, 2023. She is survived by her husband, Lawrence (Larry) Boyd of Austin, TX; son Michael Peck of Round Rock; grandchildren, Shane Sanders of Alpha, IL; and Kristina Ganaway and husband, Wesley, and their children, Cedric and Soren, of Lovington, NM; and Zachary Peck of San Marcos, TX. Also, several in-laws: daughter, Joanne Boyd of Lawrenceburg, TN; son, Lawrence Boyd Jr. and wife Brenda of Katy, TX; son, Jeffrey Boyd and wife, Jackie of Austin, TX and son, Stephen Boyd and Wife Martha of Parker, CO. Plus, the beautiful gallery of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren previously mentioned.

Visitation for Betty Ann and family will be Friday, July 28, 2023 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660. Her celebration of life funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday July 29, 2023, at Brentwood Oaks Church Of Christ, 11908 North Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas 78753, followed by a graveside short service at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for the Boyd family.