James Brownell Boyd

Born in Tucson, Arizona, to Dorothy Dempster Boyd and William Boyd, Jim grew up on the family ranch at the base of the Catalina mountains alongside his oldest brother, Bill, and middle brother, David. The Arizona desert was his playground, where he spent his youth riding motorcycles, hunting, and camping under the open skies. A little bit free-spirited from the start, young Jim was no stranger to the principal’s office, he was quick with a joke to lighten the mood, which was part of his character throughout his life. He graduated from Catalina High School in 1962.

Driven by a strong sense of duty, Jim joined the United States Navy just before his 18th birthday and started bootcamp in October 1962. He served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War. Though he rarely spoke of his war experiences, the impact quietly stayed with him. In later years, whenever asked why he didn't apply for VA benefits, Jim would characteristically deflect that he wanted to reserve those resources for veterans who really needed them.

While stationed in San Diego CA, Jim met his future wife Cindy Bobis in front of a church, who invited him and his friends to attend a USO dance. They were together for 60 years.

Jim and Cindy moved their young family from Tucson to Gig Harbor, Washington, after Jim accepted a welding job at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. His natural technical aptitude led him to transition into welding engineering, spending the remainder of his career writing and updating critical welding procedures. One of the true highlights of his professional life was his annual trip to Hawthorne, Nevada, where he tested the structural integrity of metals for ship construction—a job that involved blasting metal plates and documenting the results. Naturally, the very best part of those trips was playing golf on the drive there and back with his coworker.

Before his retirement, Jim was an avid runner, frequently competing with work colleagues in local races, as well as the annual Bloomsday run in Spokane. But golf remained his passion. As a longtime member of the men's club at Madrona Links in Gig Harbor, he played weekly, achieving every golfer’s ultimate dream twice in his lifetime: a hole-in-one at Apache Creek Golf Club in Arizona on February 13, 2015, and another at Madrona Links on August 23, 2021.

Following his retirement, Jim spent a lot of his time helping the people he loved. He was a master handyman who could repair, build, or install almost anything. His secret weapon was seeking out the most knowledgeable person at Home Depot or Lowe’s to pick their brain—and when YouTube came along, it became a game changer. He took immense pride in the money he saved by tackling projects himself, a gift he generously shared by helping family and friends with their own home improvements.

Each winter after retiring, Jim drove to Phoenix to care for his in-laws, updating their home and taking them to medical appointments. His care was deeply felt by his father-in-law, Mike, who Jim saved him from many embarrassing situations, earning the affectionate praise, “Jim, I love you like a son!”

Above all, Jim was a family man. He expressed immense gratitude for being able to retire early enough to watch his granddaughters, Shannon and Kristen, grow up. He traveled across the state to cheer them on at their club and high school soccer games, rarely missing a milestone. At home, he enjoyed watching golf and Seahawks football, Sudoku, listening to jazz—frequently attending local concerts and venues—and playing competitive games of Yahtzee and Scrabble.

Jim’s devotion to Cindy was absolute. He ensured she was taken care of in every way, right down to driving her to appointments and picking up her daily Starbucks. After Cindy retired, the couple spent their winters at their home in Mesa, Arizona, always returning to Washington each December to celebrate the holidays with family.

Jim passed away on September 5, 2026. He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Dempster Boyd; his father, William Boyd; his older brother, William “Bill” Boyd; his beloved grandson, Andrew Graves; and his in-laws, Rita and Mike Bobis.

He is survived by his loving wife, Cindy Boyd; his daughters, Tracy Hogg (Matt) and Kelly Burkhardt (Joel); his granddaughters, Shannon and Kristen; his brother, David Boyd; and many extended family members and dear friends.

Jim lived with integrity, humor, and a quiet strength. Always ready to lend a hand, he leaves behind a legacy of selfless love, devotion, and cherished memories. He will be deeply missed.