The Reverend Boyd C. Latimer

Boyd Curtis Latimer passed away on December 18, 2010. He was born January 3, 1929 in Chanute, Kansas to Glenn and Grace Latimer. After graduating from high school and Junior College in Coffeyville, KS, received his B.A. degree from the University of Kansas in 1950 and then graduated from Seabury Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL in 1953. Following his ordination in the Episcopal Church on October 13, 1953, he served his first mission churches in Yates Center, Burlington and Fredonia, Kansas before becoming rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Chanute, Kansas where he served faithfully until 1961 when he moved to Tulsa, OK to become rector of St. Mark’s Church. In July, 1965 he married Betty Lou Butcher of Chanute and at the age of 36 inherited a wife and four children. Following his years of service at St. Mark’s in Tulsa, the family moved to Oklahoma City where he served as Asst. Priest at All Soul’s Episcopal Church and St. John’s in Norman. He was also Canon at St. Paul’s Cathedral and Rector of St. George’s Church, now St. Augustine’s. In 1978 Boyd and Betty moved to Eureka Springs, AR where he served as rector and where they established The Shepherd’s Nook, a successful Christian book and gift store in downtown Eureka Springs. After retiring from the priesthood, they moved to Colorado Springs, CO where they lived and owned a successful travel agency which also afforded them the opportunity to travel to the many countries that were of interest to them. In 1993 they decided to rejoin friends and family back in Oklahoma City. In 1995, thinking he still had a few good years to spend as an active priest, he returned to All Soul’s where he served as Asst. Priest until October, 2007. His last 12 years at All Soul’s were what he always referred to as the most enjoyable and rewarding of all his years as a priest, making pastoral calls on the elderly, sick and infirm, counseling, assisting at services and helping with the Altar Guild. Boyd is survived by Betty, his wife of 45 years, daughter, Rebecca Cassel and husband, Donald, sons Frank Butcher of Silverdale, WA, Garry Butcher and wife, Jennifer of Colorado Springs, CO., and Bruce Butcher and wife, Vicki of Allen, TX, 7 grandchildren, Stacy Hasley, Courtney Ballard, Kimberly Woodard, Lindsey Butcher, Sarah Butcher, Emily Butcher, Andrea Linzman, Mollie Burns and Matthew Burns, and 4 great-grandchildren, Dustin Hasley, Jordan Hasley, Isabella Ballard and Ethan Woodard. Boyd is also survived by his brother, Gary Latimer and wife Wilma Jean of Derby, KS, sisters Sandra Knight and husband, Harvey of Arvada, CO., and Carole Ireland and husband, Mike of Marionville, MO, along with 8 nieces and nephews. The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the staffs at All Soul’s, the Memory Care Unit at The Mansion @ Waterford, Entrust Home Health Services and Centennial Hospice, who prayed for and cared for Boyd during his illness. A memorial service with internment of ashes will be held December 30, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at All Soul’s Episcopal Church with The Reverend Patrick Bright officiating. In lieu of flowers the family would like to request memorials be made in Father Latimer’s name to All Soul’s Church. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6.