Melvin Norman’s Obituary
It is with profound sadness that we the family of the late Melvin “Melv” Norman Boyd announce his passing on November 10th at the age of 77 years. Surrounded at home by his loving and caring family after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He leaves to mourn his loving wife of 53 years Emma, son Cory (Tammy) Boyd and daughter Elaine (Darren) Seaward both of Stephenville, NL., granddaughters Ashley Summer Gale, Anna and Samantha Dollimount. Also leaves to mourn brothers Ashley ( Shirley) Boyd of Stephenville, Eric (Violly) Boyd of Gander, Leonard (Jean) Boyd of Tizzard’s Harbour, Gerald(Joan) Boyd of Gander, Austin(Betty) Boyd of Stephenville, Calvin (Alice) Boyd of Kippens and Clyde (Gloria) Boyd of St.John’s NL, sisters Emma Smith of Stephenville, Betty Boyd of Tizzard’s Harbour and Christine (Tony) Sturgeon of Miramichi, New Brunswick, sister in law Jean Boyd in St. George’s, his uncle Obidiah Burt of Stephenville , close friends Harry Jenkins and Greg Fleming and many others. Melv was predeceased by his parents Eric Sr. and Lucy Boyd, brothers Gilbert and Fred Boyd, sister in law Patsy Boyd, brother in law and sister in law Milton and Kathleen Layte and brother in law George Smith.
Melv was born on Trump Island, Notre Dame Bay on November 28,1943 but resettled, house and all, to Tizzards Harbour where he lived until the age of 19 when he moved to Stephenville to find employment. He found work for two years until he decided to join the Canadian Armed Forces where he served for three years. Upon returning to Stephenville he worked for his brother Ashley with Boyd Trucking. In 1968 he went to Buchans to work as an underground Miner, in August of that year married the love of his life Emma of 53 years and in 1970 returned to Stephenville where he started his family. He worked for Boyd Auto Repair and then the Stephenville Truck Center until the call of oil sands convinced him to move his family to Fort McMurray to work for Syncrude as a heavy Duty Mechanic, until home sickness brought him back home.Melv worked again as a mechanic for Western Wholesalers, The Lower Cove Mine, Ekati Diamond Mine in the NWT and eventually back to Lower Cove until he retired in 2013.
Melv was a very mild mannered, gentle soul who would lend a hand to anyone, he could put his hand to anything, no doubt a trait he inherited from his father Eric Sr. including Mechanics, Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing ETC. He was a wizard at troubleshooting and if he couldn’t figure it out right away he would spend many hours with his nose between the pages of a shop manual until ultimately finding the solution.
Melv loved the outdoors and enjoyed weekends at the Woody Hill Cabin during the fall and winter and camping during the summer. He dearly loved and doted on his granddaughter Summer, he was protective and caring over her every move, sometimes a little too protective but that was his way, she was the light of his life. When his son Cory met and married Tammy,Melv welcomed her daughters Anna and Samantha as granddaughters as well. Melv cherished his trips back to the family homestead in Tizzard’s Harbour to visit family and friends and to get out in the boat with his brothers to catch a few codfish for the freezer. He was a very safety conscience man and ensured everyone wore a life jacket in the boat. He was always the last to go to bed at the cabin because he wanted to do a last safety check before turning in for the night including the smoke alarm, woodstove and turning off the propane.
Melv was very devoted to his family and was a friend to all and everyone who knew him would agree to that. His love of everything outdoors and his pursuit of helping others slowed down over that last number of years because of the advancement of debilitating Parkinson’s Disease but through it all he never complained and sat mostly quiet except for the odd clever joking remark to remind us all of his sense of humor.
Visitation will take place from Russell’s Funeral Home on Sunday, November 14th from 2-4&7-9 The funeral service will take place from The Salvation Army Church on Monday, November 15th at 11a.m. Due to Covid 19 restrictions, the funeral is by invitation only. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army Church in Melv’s memory.
The family wishes to thank nurses Susan Lucas, Karen Power and Tammy White for their incredible care and concern shown to Melv during his illness.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Melvin Norman Melv Boyd November 28 1943 November 10 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Stephenville, Province: T-N