David Omer Boyd
November 11, 1942
- April 16, 2011
A life of caring for others and pride in his career ended far too soon at 12:55 p.m. on Saturday, 16 April 2011 when David Omer Boyd died at the age of sixty-eight. He was surrounded by loving family, friends and those in his heart from both sides of the Pacific.
Following a thirty year driving career with Greyhound Lines of Canada David retired in 2004 and with his wife, Lorraine chose to live in Tian Jin, China where Lorraine teaches English and David was the consummate tourist in the land he called magical. He learnt sufficient Mandarin to enjoy visiting the terra cotta warriors near Xi’an, breweries in Qingdao, the Great Wall at Badaling, wondrous historical sites in Beijing, ice palaces in Harbin and the deserts of Urumchi. He particularly loved the people, the myriad of cultures and especially their food.
David is survived by daughters, Jacqueline Boyd (fiancé Adam), Josephine (Dale and sons, Nathan and Anthony) all presently in Winnipeg, and step-daughter Heather in Calgary.
He had great pride in Jacqueline’s career in the Canadian Armed Forces as she has served in the second Iraq War (Navy) and two tours in Afghanistan (Air Force). Josephine and husband, Captain Dale Devlieger, (Air Force), were his source of happiness as a grandfather. Nathan is following his grandfather in the Army life; David was in the Royal Canadian Signal Corps prior to choosing driving as a career, a choice he never regretted. Anthony graduates in June 2011 to be followed by university in September.
Throughout his thirty year career as an operator/driver David garnered lifelong friends from passengers riding on the bus behind him and colleagues behind other wheels. Agent, terminal and maintenance staff was always happy to see David pull into the bus bay for they knew he would be thankful for what they did to keep the bus rolling and would do what he could to make their job easier. Ron Claremont at the Kamloops terminal was on hand night or day, often with an artifact of Greyhound history to show or share with David before adding it to his collection.
While working out of the Cache Creek and Prince George divisions David served eight years with the RCMP in an auxiliary capacity.
Another passion for David was his Honda Valkyrie motorcycle on which he and his ‘biker chick’ clocked many thousands of kilometres. A cross-Canada trip to Halifax return was the highlight of seventeen biking summers. David also enjoyed travelling in the US during the 1970’s and ‘80’s with his best friend, John Mooey.
David was also a writer receiving on-air recognition as an entrant in a CBC Writer’s contest. As a volunteer teacher in Tian Jin he collected many accolades particularly from the primary students to whom he taught first aid. They thought it was so much fun to bandage each other and it didn’t matter if the English learned was minimal.
To avoid the heat of Tian Jin David returned to Logan Lake each summer and time was spent with a special lady, his mother-in-law, Grace Clapperton. They dined out, went to movies, played cards or had long chats.
Latterly David was able to once again enjoy precious time with his niece Cara Moroz, and nephews, Michael and Christopher Moroz.
His sister-in-law Evelyn Clapperton, long-time friends Valerie Rampone, Trudy and Barry Voss, and Trudy Frisk were generous with their time and companionship in his final weeks. Retired fellow driver Keith Suran kept David posted on ‘Greyhound Gossip’ during his time in the Royal Inland Hospital and Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice.
David will be sadly missed by his sister Rosallie of Whitecourt, Alberta and leaves to mourn a multitude of family, friends, and colleagues.
Deepest thanks are expressed to those whose compassion and dedication eased David in his final days, also to those who sent messages of love, respect and thankfulness for having known him.
At David’s request there will be no service and if desired donations may be made to the Kamloops Hospice Assn., 72 Whiteshield Cresc., Kamloops, B.C., V2E 5S9.
Condolences may be expressed at www.schoenings.com
Cremation has been entrusted to Schoening’s Funeral Service