Boyd Earl Mounce

Boyd Earl Mounce, 92, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 24 in Webster, Texas. He was born on February 26, 1934 in New Albany, Mississippi. Boyd is preceded in death by his parents Clyde Lidell Mounce and Lillie Mounce, his sister, Mary Louise Andrews, and his brothers Thomas Owen Mounce and Marcus Mounce.

Boyd’s daughters considered him a very loving father who guided them through many life decisions with wisdom and patience. He always showed up and listened when it mattered most. To them he was “Daddy”, their safe harbor through life’s many storms.

Boyd graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree.

He started his career at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. When NASA selected Houston for the new Manned Spacecraft Center, (now Johnson Space Center), in September 1961, Boyd was one of the roughly 750 employees who moved from Virginia and Alabama to Texas to kickstart the Apollo program. The newly formed center in Houston was established to lead the nation’s efforts to land humans on the Moon. Because the actual Manned Spacecraft Center (JSC campus) in Clear Lake wasn’t built yet, Boyd and the original “space pioneers” initially worked out of temporary leased office space, hotels, apartments and retail space across southeast Houston. The Johnson Space Center, as we know it today, opened in 1964.

Boyd considered his most significant professional achievement being the successful lunar landing mission in 1969, Apollo 11. Family and friends will forever remember Boyd’s response, “By damn we did it!” Moving an entire government agency across the country and setting up shop in dress shops and apartment buildings, all while racing for the moon, is nothing short of incredible!

Another career highlight, Boyd, a precision photographer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, was one of the individuals who physically escorted lunar samples to Japan for the 1970 World Exposition (Expo ’70) in Osaka. The Apollo 12 moon rock was the star attraction of the U.S. Pavilion at Expo ’70. To ensure its safety and maintain the chain of custody, NASA utilized specialized personnel to accompany the rock during transit. The moon rock was flown to Japan and displayed under heavy security, where it drew crowds of up to 8,000 per hour! This specific rock, roughly the size of an eggplant, became a powerful symbol of U.S. science diplomacy and was guarded by a swarm of security personnel during this fair.

Boyd’s career at Johnson Space Center spanned over four decades. In the later stages of his career, he served as a key figure in the Public Affairs Office and as an Artifacts Manager. He was instrumental in coordinating with the Smithsonian Institution to preserve and transition Space Shuttle hardware after the program’s retirement.

Boyd loved the outdoors, sailing on Clear Lake and fishing in Galveston. He was also a talented artist, specializing in drawing, painting and abstract photography. During his retirement, Boyd entered numerous art exhibitions, consistently winning top awards.

Boyd is survived by, daughters Vicki Lavigne and husband Russell and Dana Barak and husband Jamie, grandson Russell (Rusty) Lavigne II and granddaughter Jada Barak, nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews. We miss him terribly but take comfort in knowing he is home with his Heavenly Father and reunited with family members and friends that he loved so dearly.

The family will have a private visitation and Celebration of Life at Forest Park East Funeral Home on March 30, 2026. Boyd’s final resting place will be in a companion crypt with his loving wife of many years, Betty June Mounce. May they rest in peace together forever, as they both requested.