Elda Susey Boyle

Elda S. Boyle died Friday, December 10, 2010, in Spokane, Washington. She was 87 years old.

Born September 24, 1923, in Aberdeen, Idaho, to Willard A. and Margret Ann Rowe, Mrs. Boyle grew up on the Rowe family farm four miles north of American Falls, Idaho. The farm had been homesteaded by her family under the Carey Act in 1908. She attended Fairview School, graduated from American Falls High School, and completed training as a registered nurse at Pocatello General Hospital School of Nursing. She was an alumna of the first class of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps program and upon graduation in February 1945, received a commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. She served at McCaw Army Hospital in Walla Walla, Washington. She was then promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to the 183rd Station Hospital, Fort Richardson, Alaska, where she received an Army Commendation Ribbon for outstanding performance of duty in the rescue and care of soldiers, passengers, and crew of the wrecked vessel SS Yukon. She later received the Asian Pacific Service Medal and WWII Victory Medal.

In June 1946, Mrs. Boyle resigned her commission to marry Felix J. Boyle. The couple began their life together in Spokane. They were blessed with two children, Susan and Felix, Jr.. Mrs. Boyle continued to pursue her nursing career while raising a family. She worked at Deaconess Hospital and as a private duty nurse. She participated in the opening of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Spokane where she worked as a surgical nurse until retirement in 1980. In 1984, she returned to work as a transportation attendant for Laidlaw Transit, Inc. She was named Attendant of the Year in 2002. She worked for Laidlaw well into her eighties. She also worked as an entertainment actor in films.

Mrs. Boyle’s interests included gardening, genealogy research, garage sales, and berry picking at Green Bluff and Priest Lake. As a girl, she had been pronounced a “natural horsewoman” by her father; and she rode like the wind through the sagebrush country of Southeastern Idaho with her brothers and many cousins.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Independent, self-reliant, bright, with a great sense of fun and adventure, Mrs. Boyle led a very useful and productive life. She will be sorely missed.

Mrs. Boyle was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Felix J. Boyle; son Felix J. Boyle, Jr.; brother Miles Rowe; and sister Helen Rowe Peckham. She is survived by her daughter Susan E. Boyle; brothers, Willard A. Rowe, Jr., Raymond B. Rowe, and Pat Rowe; step-daughter, Carol A. Schaal ; and their families.

There will be a graveside service Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at Spokane Memorial Gardens, 5909 S. Cheney-Spokane Rd., Spokane, Washington.