Boyd grew up in Garland, UT and San Jose, CA, moving to Merced 8 years ago. He was a master glazier who specialized in jobs that others said couldn’t be done, and became known as the Glass Man. He worked in the industry for nearly 25 years, operating his own company, A Touch of Glass, for the last 14 years.
His time as a Boy Scout sparked his lifelong passion for nature and wilderness survival. His other passions included billiards—he was a member of the American PoolPlayers Association for many years and played competitively—as well as fishing, camping, gold panning, science, the environment and cooking delicious food. He was known for his infamous BBQ.
Family was everything to Boyd. He is survived by his wife Paula Harris, daughters Ashley-Marie Petersen and Celestia Petersen, stepson Andrew Herrera, granddaughter Octavia Herrera, sisters Malisa Hornung, Shelly Fortier and Andrea Parker, and adopted mother and brother Catherine Connolly and Jerome Meyer. He is preceded in death by his stepfather Neil Petersen. His biological parents are Karen Demorris Rhodes and Roger Walter Turley. Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on Friday, June 28, 1-4 pm, Fish and Game Building, Lake Yosemite, Merced, CA. Parking is limited, carpooling is encouraged.
Boyd’s favorite place to camp and fish in the Sierras, near Clark Fork and Dardanelle, was devasted by recent wildfires, and his family is collecting donations to reforest acres there in his memory. Donate online at www.gofundme.com/f/memorialfundboydpetersen (please copy and paste URL into your address bar to access website) or by mailing a check to Boyd Petersen Memorial Fund, c/o Paula Harris 731 E. Yosemite Avenue, B134, Merced, CA 95340 .
He was loved by so many and will be missed by them all.
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