Arthur Lawrence Boyd

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Arthur Lawrence Boyd enjoyed a long and full life from his birth on June 23, 1928, in Burleson, Texas, until he reached final rest on March 22, 2025, at his home in Sweetwater, Tennessee. Art was a man of many accomplishments, and no summary can begin to capture all he achieved. In 1945 he married Nellie Ray Sargent and soon after enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the Signal Corps until his retirement in 1967, when he, Nell, and his two children settled in Roseville, Minnesota. There he completed his bachelor’s degree at Bethel College, founded and ran the Artronics recording studio, earned a Master of Divinity degree at Bethel Seminary, worked as a hospital and institutional chaplain, and then became a Certified Financial Planner in the life insurance and annuity industry. In 1992 he retired again. Art and Nell spent nearly two years traveling the country in an RV and in 1994 put down roots in the Sweetwater community, where they built a beautiful hillside home on five acres and lived with their son, Lanny. During this period, Art embraced an encore career and in 2007, at the age of seventy-nine, became the published author of Operation Broken Reed, a fascinating book that describes his participation in a secret Korean War mission. After more than seven decades of a loving and adventurous partnership, Art and Nell were parted by her 2016 death. Lanny had been in poor health for some time and then moved to an assisted living facility in Sweetwater. At that time, Art relocated to the small home where he quietly lived out the final years of his life, always missing his beloved Nell. Above all, Art Boyd was a man who cared deeply about other people, experienced this world with zeal, and loved his family wholeheartedly. Lanny died in 2023, but Art is survived by granddaughters Margaret Kindle and Elizabeth Boyd Christopherson of Minnesota and Katie Strabala and Avy Harris of Colorado, great grandson Timber Washenberger of Minnesota, as well as by daughter Ranee Boyd Tomlin and son-in-law David Tomlin, also of Colorado. Numerous letters, cards, emails, phone calls, and visits to Tennessee sustained a close connection between this special man and his family across distance and time. His presence will be missed. A special thank you to Beth Waddell for the seven years of devoted care she provided to Art. Friends will be received at Kyker Funeral Home, 113 West North Street, Sweetwater, Tennessee, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2025. A memorial service with full military honors will take place at Chattanooga National Cemetery, 1200 Bailey Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Friday, April 4, 2025, from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m.

Arthur Lawrence Boyd

June 23, 1928 - March 22, 2025