Johnnie Mitchell Boyd

Johnnie Mitchell Boyd, Sr., a resident of Hominy, passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2006 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of seventy-six years, four months and twenty-six years. He was known to his friends and family as J.M.

Johnnie was born June 29, 1930 in Stillwell, Oklahoma the son of John Lester and Tressie Irene Boyd. He was a second cousin of the infamous silver screen legend, William Boyd, known as Hopalong Cassidy. J. M. was raised in the Marble City, Vian and Sallisaw area and attended school there. He spent considerable time as a youth on the Cherokee Indian Reservation, where he learned to speak Cherokee fluently. During his early childhood, he spent countless hours with his grandfather, Doc Boyd, a medical doctor and veterinarian in Sequoyah County, the person who perhaps had the greatest effect on his life. After completion of his education, J. M. began working at the age of thirteen in the marble and granite quarries in Sequoyah County.

At the age of fifteen he moved with his family to California where he began working in numerous capacities as he was able to learn welding and automobile mechanics on the job. He was later certified as an underwater welder (wet-stick welder) and was employed assisting in the construction of the Transbay Tube in California. Additionally, while in California, Johnnie was trained in heavy equipment operation as he cleared land in the mountains using a caterpillar to pull down trees with a log chain.

After returning to Oklahoma, he worked for several years operating an asphalt lay down machine (paver) constructing highways in Oklahoma and Kansas. He was married to Margarett Cross in Muskogee, Oklahoma on December 14, 1959. The couple raised five children, Johnny Mitchell, Jr., James Lester, Daniel James, Frankie June, and Linda Irene. During much of this time, Johnnie owned and operated his own trucking company, hauling grain throughout the area and also operating dump trucks. During his career, he was employed on many farms, operating tractors and at one time was hired as a Sequoyah County Under Sherriff, working for E. W. Floyd.

J. M. was an avid hunter and fisherman. Some of the greatest enjoyment he received during his lifetime was raising coon hunting dogs and pit bulls. It was jokingly said that if he had to choose between taking a dog to the vet or a family member to the doctor, the dog would win. He enjoyed listening to country western music, especially, Merle Haggard and George Jones and was an excellent musician. He played the guitar, harmonica, and fiddle and enjoyed singing. Other hobbies included gun collecting, having an extensive collection of pistols, rifles and shotguns. He loved to fix anything broken or in need of repair. He was an excellent carpenter in addition to his other skills and completely rebuilt one of the family homes during their stay there. He also liked restoring classic pickups; two of his favorites were his 1943 Ford pickup and a 1970 Dodge truck, doing all the work himself. Johnnie was proud of his children and there ability to stand on their own and be survivors. He will be remembered as a tough and stern father who expected the most from his children, always providing encouragement and love.

J. M. is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Daniel James and Valarie Walters, Vian, Oklahoma; two daughters, Frankie June Boyd, Blackwell, Oklahoma and Linda Irene Boyd-Lane and her spouse, James Lane, Blackwell, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, Brian Keith Gilbert, II, Blackwell, Oklahoma, Daniel Walters, Jr., Vian, Oklahoma, Serena Irene Cornell, Detroit, Michigan, Kila LaRue Walters, Vian, Oklahoma, Destiny Dawn Thornburg, Blackwell, Oklahoma, Amanda Irene Lane, Blackwell, Oklahoma, Zackary Sanchez, Skiatook, Oklahoma, Isaac Destin Boyd, Blackwell, Oklahoma and Morgan Cheri Reed, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; great grandson, Brian Keith Gilbert, III, Blackwell, Oklahoma; and two sisters, Sarah LeVown Wyles, Oroville, California and Reba Joyce and her husband, Joe Hammersly, Oroville, California. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, Johnnie Mitchell Boyd, Jr. and James Lester Boyd.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, November 30, 2006 in the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Cremation arrangement were under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.