Dr. Boyd Miller Saviers, known to his three children as “Dad,” to his eight grandchildren as “Pop,” and to his thousands of patients over the years as “Dr. Saviers,” passed away on June 11, 2018, at the age of 94.
Born in Poteau, Oklahoma on December 22, 1923, to Roscie and Clarence Saviers, Boyd’s childhood was a happy one, surrounded by family and the outdoors, with camping and fishing trips on the Fourth of July. After graduating from Poteau High School in 1941, and with war on the horizon, Clarence took out a loan to enroll Boyd in Wentworth Junior College in Lexington, Missouri to study medicine. On Saturday, December 13th, a week after President Roosevelt had announced the bombing of Pearl Harbor; Boyd and his college friends Howard Pleuss and Herby Jones hitchhiked to Kansas City in the freezing cold to enlist in the Navy. On their way, they passed then Senator Harry S. Truman’s house where, even from the road, they could hear Bess Truman singing and playing the piano.
After being sworn into the Navy, Boyd was sent back to Wentworth and then to Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau to finish his studies and prepare for medical school. Boyd was accepted to Tulane, Northwestern, and Oklahoma University Medical School before eventually choosing Oklahoma, and despite a bout of pneumonia that put him in the Naval Hospital in Norman, he made it to his first day of classes on January 4th, 1943.
Of the many internships during his years at OU Med, by far the most significant was his post in Indianapolis, Indiana, where on his first day, he saw a beautiful young blonde nurse in the cafeteria, who after some investigation, turned out to be Janie Almon of Evansville, Indiana. That very afternoon, Boyd found Janie feeding a baby with diphtheria, and there in the doorway of the pediatric wing, asked her to go on a date that Saturday night. Their first date was to the Indiana State Fair and at Janie’s insistence and Boyd’s terror, they rode the roller coaster three times in a row! He was smitten. Soon Boyd visited Janie’s family in Evansville and in December 1947, the young couple visited Poteau where Janie entertained Boyd’s family and friends with her joke telling. In no time, they were as in love with Janie as he was. After borrowing $150.00 for an engagement ring, Boyd proposed, and the two were married on July 2nd, 1948 in Owensville, Indiana then Population: 37.
In the early years of their marriage, Boyd and Janie made house calls together, delivering babies in houses, some with only dirt floors. As a medical officer for the US Navy, Boyd and Janie were moved to El Paso, to Heavner, OK, to Dallas, to Corpus Christi for active duty during the Korean War, and finally to San Antonio. Along the way they started a family of their own. In San Antonio, their first son Jim was born. In January 1953, Boyd’s service to his country was complete and he received his discharge from the Navy. During Boyd’s three years of surgery residency in Dallas, their second son, Mark was born. And after accepting a position as a General Surgeon under Dr. Krock of Holt-Krock Clinic in Fort Smith, Boyd and Janie settled on Carthage St. and added their daughter Ann to the family. Over the next 31 years, Boyd performed more than 12,000 surgeries throughout the River Valley and will be remembered as a prolific and caring surgeon. During his career, he was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, and the President of the Sebastian County Medical Society.
He shared his time and talents with his family, First United Methodist Church, Project Compassion, Fort Smith Public Library, Sparks Foundation, Fort Smith Parking Authority, and Hardscrabble Country Club. In his own words, Boyd would tell you that his life was “pretty good” and that he’s been “luckier than most,” as he got to do a lot of fishing with his sons and play a lot of golf, and the only time he was ever sad was when Janie died on March 5th, 2000 at the age of 72.
He leaves behind his children, Jim and Barbara Saviers, Mark and Vicki Saviers, Ann and Dick Appleton; his grandchildren, Marshall and Beth Saviers, John Mark and Melissa Saviers, James and Brittany Saviers, Kelly and Jay Marconi, Robert and Abby Saviers, Richard Appleton, Andrew Appleton and fiancé, Laura Hanson, and Barrett Appleton. Boyd also had five great grandchildren, Mary Collins, Russell, David and Sam Saviers and George Marconi. He was excitedly awaiting the arrival of a sixth great grandchild, Harris James Marconi in July. One brother, Charles Saviers; and two nephews, Dale Saviers and Allen Saviers and family, also survive him.
Pallbearers are his grandsons, Marshall Saviers, John Mark Saviers, James Saviers, Jay Marconi, Robert Saviers, Richard, Andrew, and Barrett Appleton.
Honorary pallbearers are Dr, John Watts, George Beattie, Larry Nelson, Bruce McNeill, Dr. Frank Lockwood, Joe Irwin, Bob Worley, Dr. John Wikman, Joe Fred Young, and Adam Plattner.
There will be special seating and recognition of Boyd’s many Bible Study students throughout the years.
A Memorial Service will be held at First United Methodist Church Sanctuary on Thursday, June 14th at 2:00 pm with a private burial at the U.S. National Cemetery, under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends in the church Narthex, following the Memorial Service.
Special thanks to Shirley Faulkner, longtime friend and caregiver of both Boyd and Janie Saviers. Her special friendship and love will never be forgotten by our family. We are also grateful to other short term, kind and loving caregivers Rev. Ron Forte, Curtisstine Forte, Donna Hill, and Peachtree Hospice who showed our father love, respect, and dignity.
The family would love to hear any stories about Boyd that you would like to share. If so, please send them to [email protected].
Memorials may be made to The Dr. Boyd and Jane Saviers Endowment at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith to fund the Jane Almon Saviers Distinguished Chair for Nursing; or to First United Methodist Church Foundation in Fort Smith.
Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com
