Obituary: Kathryn (Kay) Boyer ’48
Messiah University is saddened by news of the passing of Kathryn (Kay) Tyson Boyer ’48, who died at age 93 March 13, 2022
She attended Messiah Academy, where she met her beloved husband, Ernest L. Boyer Sr. ’48. His influential educational leadership began at Messiah’s sister Brethren in Christ school, Upland College, and extended to positions as chancellor of the State University of New York, U.S. Commissioner of Education and president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
The Boyers held a deep love and appreciation for Messiah. He served for 26 years on Messiah’s Board of Trustees, including five years as chair. She served on Messiah’s Board of Trustees from 1996-2004.
President Kim S. Phipps said, “Kay was a passionate voice for shaping an educational community that reflected academic excellence and Christian values. In particular, she was a strong advocate for increasing the number of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations at Messiah and for nurturing a strong sense of community on our campus. We are also incredibly grateful for Kay’s gracious gift of the Boyer archives and the treasured opportunity to infuse Boyer ideals into educational and public policy conversation through the work of the Ernest L. Boyer Center. She was an inspiration to me and to so many.”
Ernest L. Boyer’s philosophy that education serves to shape convictions and build bridges of understanding has inspired generations of educational leaders. Kathryn’s gracious hospitality and caring collaboration significantly influenced his life and work. Her leadership in women’s health has also inspired many.
She was a pioneering leader in natural childbirth. During her husband’s early years at Upland College, her work as a part-time nurse at the Upland San Antonio Hospital sparked a love for labor and delivery. When her husband served as U.S. Commissioner of Education, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by completing a nurse-midwifery program at Georgetown University. She went on to serve as president of the American College of Nurse Midwives Foundation. In recognition of her leadership, she received an honorary degree from Hood College.
At the age of 82, she published her memoir, “Many Mansions: Lessons of Faith, Family and Public Service” (Abilene Christian University Press, 2014) in which she recounts the extensive travel and frequent moves that characterized her and her family’s life as Ernie pursued his calling. Kathryn’s love for her husband and family as well as her deep and abiding Christian faith are evident on every page.
Her life was marked by a profound sense of Christian calling. Her caring spirit was evident in her ongoing efforts to support her family and help those in need. She was active in her church; led a class in English language practice and Bible study for Chinese women; and founded a program to educate teenage mothers.
In recent years, Messiah has been fortunate to add her papers to our Boyer archival collection. This semester, Sarah Myers, assistant professor of history, and students in her Introduction to Public History course partnered with archives staff to organize Kay’s personal papers and make them accessible to researchers.
Messiah joins a wide community of family and friends in honoring her life and legacy.
— Cynthia A. Wells, professor of higher education, director of faculty development and director of the Ernest L. Boyer Center