Martha Boyd

Martha Elizabeth Davidson Boyd, age 90, of Odessa passed away at her home on December 23, 2021, surrounded by those who loved her.

Services are scheduled for Wednesday, December 29 at Sunset Memorial Chapel with Pastor Harry Irwin of Sherwood Baptist Church officiating.  Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Martha was born in Gilmer, Texas, on September 10, 1931, to Minnie (Durham) and Riley Franklin “Buck” Davidson.  During her childhood she lived with her family in many cities in Arkansas, Texas, and California.  She was a good student even though, as she laughingly said, one school year she attended 3 different schools.  While living with her family in Stockton, California, during her junior year in high school, Martha met Leroy Boyd.  Her family moved back to Odessa the following year and she spent her senior year attending Odessa High School, graduating in 1948 at age 16.  Not long after her graduation, Leroy followed her to Odessa and asked her to marry him.  They were married November 17, 1950, in Odessa.  They lived in base housing in southern California while Leroy served in the Navy during the Korean War, returning to Odessa in 1952 when he was discharged.  Martha and Leroy had 5 children: 2 sons (Dennis Boyd and Larry Boyd) and 3 daughters (Karen Boyd, Kay Duree, and Amy Broussard).

When Martha’s children were all safely in school, her love of children led her to a lifelong career in childcare beginning at Mary Moppet’s Daycare.  She worked there for many years until eventually she and Leroy purchased the business, which was renamed Kids in Care Learning Center.  When Leroy passed away in July 2001, Martha sold the business and refocused her love of children to caring for the babies and toddlers in the nursery at her beloved church, Sherwood Baptist.

Martha’s great love of children has been felt by so many generations over the years through her work in childcare and at her church.   So many remembered “Mz Martha” and would run to give and receive her hugs.  She particularly enjoyed encountering children she had at her daycare and meeting and caring for their children.  In addition to her love of children, Martha loved animals, saying that “dogs and kids love me”.  She loved many dogs, including her spoiled poodles.  In her later years she grew very fond of several cats, including a few who adopted her and lived on her sun porch.  Martha loved finding interesting shells while strolling on the beach and interesting rocks along whatever path she walked. She loved collecting and had many eclectic collections including depression glass, animated toys, and other collectibles.  Martha also loved and collected dolls throughout her later years and loved showing them off to whomever came to her door.  She had a generous and loving heart, always thinking of others, and loved giving gifts to everyone she loved, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Martha is preceded in death by her husband Leroy (2001), her father Riley (1979), mother Minnie (1980) her two beloved brothers Carl (2010) and Jimmie (2019), and her sister Wanda (1936).  She is survived by her son Dennis Boyd and daughter-in-law Debbie Noe Boyd, daughter Karen Boyd and son-in-law David Alexander, son Larry Boyd, daughter Kay Duree, daughter Amy Broussard, ten grandchildren (Aaron, Morgan, Jarrod, Marci, Evan, Drew, Rachel, Dani, Kinley, and Ayden), and fifteen great-grandchildren (Nicholas, Blake, Austin, Madison, Lauren, Rylee, Camden, Landon, Nathan, Jacob, Karston, Karter, Hayes, Hazel, and Holland).