Myrtle D. Boyd

Myrtle Doris Boyd, 88, passed away on March 8, 2025, at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center in Chestertown, Maryland. Born on January 21,1937 in Woodbury, New Jersey to the late Horace K. Whitley and Bertha Whitley, “Myrt” as she was affectionately called by family and friends, resided in Chestertown, Maryland. Myrt attended school in New Jersey and Bakersfield, California before returning to New Jersey and graduating from Pitman High School in 1955. The Whitley family, including Myrt, her brothers, nieces and nephews, all graduated from the same high school in Pitman. The Whitley family always had one family member attend this high school for 16 years, beginning in 1951. After graduation, she worked at Maryland Credit Insurance Company in Pitman for four years. She met her first husband, Carl C. Leonard, and married in 1957. They settled in Mantua Grove, NJ and had two daughters, Peggy and Beth, before moving to Kennedyville, Maryland in 1962. There they operated a 364-acre dairy farm for 20 years and had a son, Carl Leonard, Jr. Myrt was in charge of registering each Holstein calf born, feeding the calves, and other farm duties. She also served as an accountant and secretary for the farm’s operation. Carl Sr. and Myrt divorced, and she then moved to Chestertown and married John C. Boyd in 1987. She worked part-time at Parole and Probation in Chestertown, retiring in 1999. Myrt was a stellar athlete in high school, playing field hockey and basketball. She was also an avid swimmer in her youth and also played softball in Kennedyville for a number of years. She enjoyed dancing in her youth, meeting her first husband, Carl, at a local teen dance. She continued her love for dance well into her older adulthood, always ready to join in when the sound of the 50’s were playing. She enjoyed traveling to the “shore’ in Stone Harbor, NJ for summer vacation with her family. Everyone in the family looked forward to traveling there for two weeks every summer to enjoy the beach and visit with family and friends. She later acquired a mobile home in Ft. Lauderdale, FL with her first husband and enjoyed being a “snowbird” during the winter months. Her hobbies included reading, playing “Scat” with friends, gardening, and feeding the “critters” in her backyard, including the local mallard ducks, birds, and hummingbirds. She also enjoyed jazz music, relaxing in her sunroom and enjoying an evening cocktail. Myrt was preceded in death by her first husband, Carl Leonard; second husband, John Boyd, and son Carl “Butch” Leonard, Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Peg McHugh and Elizabeth Rich, both of Rock Hall, MD; three brothers, Charles Whitely, Sr. of New Smyrna Beach, FL (Peg), Donald Whitely Sr. of Pitman, NJ and James Whitely of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; grandchildren, Jake Voorhees of Philadelphia Pa, Sam Voorhees of Madison, Wisconsin, Tim Leonard of Washington DC, and Jimmy Rich of Centreville MD; as well as many nieces, nephews and a host of friends. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Burial to be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any American Legion or Military Veterans organizations.

Myrtle D. Boyd

January 21, 1937 - March 8, 2025