Bessie Evelyn Boyd

Bessie Evelyn Boyd, 87, of Dover and formerly of Akron, went to be with the Lord Saturday evening, February 2, 2008 at New Dawn Assisted Living Center in Dover.Born February 27, 1920 in Canton, she was the daughter of the late Bert and Bessie Orita (True) Boyd.Evelyn completed her high school education at McKinley High School alongside more than 1, 000 other classmates in 1938. Her senior class was the last group of students to graduate from the high school before merging with another school.Goodyear Tire was Evelyn’s primary employer for more than 40 years. In 1982, she retired as a secretary from Goodyear and joined their retirement association, the Blue and Gold Club.The First United Methodist Church in Akron was the spiritual home of Evelyn for more than 40 years. There, she attended church regularly and participated in the United Methodist Women’s group and was a member of the Keystone Sunday School class. She was reared in the Cradle Roll United Brethren Church in Canton.Although she never had children of her own, Evelyn was a wonderful and loving aunt to her niece and nephew who survive, Judy (Bart) Harshey and Steve (Susan) Bair, both of New Philadelphia. Her family also includes her great-nieces, Jessica (Matt) Kinsey of New Philadelphia and Stephanie Bair of Columbus, her great-nephews, Matthew Laizure of Illinois and Travis (companion, Laurinda Lewis) Laizure of New Philadelphia; great-great-niece and nephew, Julia and Jackson Kinsey; 6 step-great-nieces and nephews; and one step-great-great niece.In addition to her parents, Evelyn was preceded in death by her two sisters, Virginia Bair and an infant sister, Ruby Irene.Visitation will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory on Tuesday, February 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. A service celebrating Evelyn’s life will be held in the funeral home chapel Wednesday beginning at 10:30 a.m. with The Rev. D. Lynn Snider of her Akron church home officiating. Burial alongside her parents will immediately follow the service in New Cumberland Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to the Geib Family Center, located adjacent the funeral home in New Philadelphia following the committal service where a church meal will be provided by local church families.In memory of Evelyn, the family requests memorial contributions be directed to the First United Methodist Church, 263 E. Mill St., Akron, OH 44308 .Those unable to attend are invited to share memories and condolences with the family by visiting the funeral home’s website. Linn-Hert-Geib(330) 343-5506www.geibfuneral.com