Dorothy Lamey Boyd

MISSOULA – Dorothy Lamey Boyd, 89, passed away Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, at her home in Missoula.

Dorothy was born March 11, 1923, in Havre to parents, Arthur F. Lamey Sr. and Frances Kasmer.

She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Montana in 1945 and she attended the University of Montana School of Law.

On April 28, 1947, in Havre, she married Frank J. Boyd.

Dorothy was a member of PEO and enjoyed bowling and bridge, and was an avid reader.

Dorothy was born and raised in Havre and on the Hi-Line, and the people who live there established her foundation and shaped the incredible person she was to become. It was there, with her brother Art and sister Lorraine, that she learned the value and meaning of family, friendship, persistence and courage through her father's polio and mother's heart disease. She learned that your circumstances in life do not define you. It was also there, during kindergarten, that she met the love of her life and future husband, Frank. It was the beginning of a lifelong love story that spanned 65 years of marriage, two children, seven grandchildren and eight beautiful great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was a brilliant woman, who lived her life with great humility. She graduated from the University of Montana in 1945 and entered law school at UM during a time when few woman graced its halls. She believed strongly in women's education and spent her adult life mentoring and guiding young women through PEO and making sure her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren understood the power of an education and never-ending thirst for knowledge.

The end of World War II brought Frank back to her doorstep asking for her hand in marriage. They were married April 28, 1947, and never left each other's side. Through it all, they were each other's partner, companion, lover and, most importantly, best friend. Their adventures took them to school in Kansas City and back to Billings, where both their daughters were born. They moved to Bozeman in 1954 and opened Boyd's Jewelry, working side by side each day until leaving Bozeman in 1982. It was with Frank by her side that Dorothy learned the lessons of true tenderness and opening their home, lives and love to anyone who was in need. In the 1970s, Frank bought Dorothy their house on Flathead Lake, a lifelong dream of Dorothy's, and the place that would become their true home. Together they created a sense of community, love and acceptance wherever they were and their life was blessed with incredible, deep friendships because of it.

So many words can be used to describe this amazing woman, but none seem adequate. Wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, mentor. She filled our lives with extraordinary love, laughter, wit and wisdom, and we are so blessed and privileged to have shared her life. She will be so missed.

She was preceded in death by father, Arthur; mother, Frances; mother, Catherine; and sister, Lorraine.

Survivors include her husband, Frank; daughters, Pam Boyd and Barb Neilan; brother, Arthur F. Lamey Jr. (and wife Jo); grandchildren, Inga Nelson (and partner Julia Stewart), Birgitta Pirrone (and husband Riccardo), Erik Peterson (and wife Paula), Neva Peterson, Katie Neilan, Nickolas Neilan (and wife Becky) and Laura Neilan Wardle (and partner Amber); and eight loving great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at St. Francis Xavier Church in Missoula with Father Carver officiating. She will be buried at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Riccardo Pirrone, Steve Neilan, Erik Peterson, Pat Lamey, Matt Lamey, Josh Helle.

Read Dorothy Boyd's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.