Catherine Boyd

Catherine Robertson Boyd peacefully passed away on March 24, 2025, in Northport, Alabama. Born June 10, 1938, she was raised in Pottawatomie County in southeastern Oklahoma. Catherine began her education at Valley View School, a one-room schoolhouse that sparked her lifelong passion for knowledge; subsequently she graduated from Earlsboro High School in 1955. She later attended Oklahoma State University, where she met her future husband, Leroy. The couple married in January 1958 and moved to Lexington, Kentucky, to further their education.

At the University of Kentucky, Catherine earned both a B.S. (1959) and M.S. (1963) in Home Economics, setting the stage for a career that would inspire countless students. In 1963, Catherine and Leroy moved to Starkville, Mississippi, where Catherine began her tenure at Mississippi State University. She initially worked as a part-time instructor in the Department of Home Economics (now Human Sciences) and later served as a beloved professor and department chair, specializing in courses on clothing and textiles. During this time, she balanced the demands of teaching and raising a family while commuting to the University of Alabama to earn her Ph.D. in Secondary Education in 1983. In addition, she was leader of the Lucky Clover 4-H Club, a frequent volunteer for the Starkville Public School band program, and a member of both the MSU Women’s Club and HEHC.

In 1985, Catherine made a lasting mark on the MSU campus by establishing the Historic Costume and Textiles Collection, which continues to serve as a valuable resource today. After 33 years of dedicated service, Catherine retired in 2003 as a professor emeritus, leaving behind an enduring impact on the university and its students.

Following her retirement, Catherine was very active in community organizations. She volunteered with the Friends of the Starkville Public Library, Oktibbeha County OSERVS, and Oktibbeha County Master Gardeners. She was also an active member of the Dorcas Class at First Baptist Church Starkville and a devoted fan of Mississippi State University sports.

Catherine was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Leroy; her parents, Marvin and Cleo Snyder Robertson; and her sister, Shirley Curtis. She leaves behind two daughters, Susanne and David Purvis of New Orleans, LA, and Diane and Jeffrey Schultz of Tuscaloosa, AL. She is survived by two grandsons, Timothy Purvis of Raleigh, NC and Nathaniel Schultz of Tuscaloosa, AL, and granddaughter Rebecca Purvis and her husband Taylor Williams of Summerville, SC. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the compassionate caregivers and staff of HomeRN Tuscaloosa, Hospice of West Alabama, and nurse practitioner Tiffany Williams for the loving care they provided Catherine during her final days.

A Celebration of Life service to honor Catherine will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, at First Baptist Church Starkville, located at 106 E. Lampkin Street, Starkville, MS 39759. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Dr. Catherine Boyd Endowed Scholarship Fund in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, made payable to the MSU Foundation, 600 Russell St, Starkville, MS 39759. Online donations can also be made at msufoundation.com, where gifts can be designated for the Dr. Catherine Boyd Endowed Scholarship Fund (502406). Memorial gifts may also be made to First Baptist Church, 106 E. Lampkin Street, Starkville, MS 39759, or online at fbcstarkville.com.