Patricia Mae (Neill) Boyd

Patricia Boyd of Dauphin, Manitoba passed away on Monday, July 22, 2019 at the age of 73 years.

Mom was born in a snow storm on May 12, 1946 first born child to Lee and Effie Neill (nee McMunn), a brother Ronald and a sister Kathleen would follow at roughly 8 years intervals.  As mom says, she grew up on a dirt farm 2 miles south of Dauphin.  In the winters, they would move into town with Grannie and Grandpa Annie & Alex Neill. Summertime would be back at the family farm. Once brother Ronnie came along a house had to be built because there just wasn’t enough room in town anymore.
Mom went to work at the Metropolitan and at the front desk of the hospital but had to quit before she married dad as he needed help on the farm.  They were married on October 23, 1965 at the United Church and then had the reception at Jerry’s night spot. Years later she worked at the Fort Dauphin Museum for a couple of years.  Brenda was born in June of 1967, David Jr came along in February of 1969.  Dad begged for more kids.  Sherry came along in October 1974.  She would be dad’s favourite. Again dad wanted more kids and finally convinced mom to have Dan in March of 1981. Dad would have had a baseball team if he could have. Dan and mom had a special bond and he was the reason she was able to stay at home as long as she did in later years as her health was declining.
  Many lifelong friendships were started at horse or cattle shows, 4H events or at ringette. Everyone called her mom and they were all a little afraid of her because she would give them shit as if they were her own. We were pretty lucky because she hauled us all over the country.  There was always an extra kid or two at the farm growing up.  Mom fed EVERYONE. Dad would bring his curling buddies home after a few drinks because they were hungry. 
 Mom was a great gardener and we canned and froze EVERYTHING we could.  No vegetable or fruit was safe from us. We shelled 5 gallon pails of peas at a time. Beans weren’t safe from us either! We would plant hundreds of hills of potatoes because God forbid if we ran out and had to BUY potatoes. Plus we needed seed potatoes for the next year. Many a Sunday was spent in the garden weeding and hilling potatoes and when we were done if we were lucky enough, we would go to town and get a treat.
  Mom also had decorations for everything.  She was legendary at the ag society for pulling up with her little red Grand Am and it was like magic! Anything that was needed - mom had. Decorations for the Ag society float? Pat had stuff. Kinda like Mr. Dress-up’s tickle trunk.  Mom loved her kids and would do anything for us. Her grandkids were a source of great joy for her. She would drive to Gilbert Plains in her little red Grand Am and pick up Shelby and Emerson and then head off to Winnipegosis and pick up Tyson and Bryce and head off on some adventure.  One of their favourite stops was the beach in town on Lake Winnipegosis.  Mom would take her lawn chair far out in the lake because it was so shallow to be close to the kids. They made many, many sand castles. She tried to catch as many hockey and baseball games as she could.
  Mom fundraised ALL the time. She was always helping at auction sale luncheons and catering at funerals. If there was a club - chances are mom was involved in it. She volunteered in almost everything.
  As kids, we were always upset because she stopped and talked to EVERYONE and we swear she knew EVERYONE.  Now we are the same!  She always had a smile on her face and time to talk to anyone she knew.  Her kindness was legendary. Her smile would light up a room.   If something needed to be done, Pat would do it. The world was a better place because she was in it.
Pat was predeceased by husband Dave in 1994, son David Jr in 2012, son-in-law Randy Tycholes in 2003, parents Lee Neill & Effie Neill, sister Kathleen Neill, brother-in-law Orest Bereza.
She leaves to mourn daughter Brenda Boyd, granddaughters Shelby Tycholes (Hunter Leforte) of Gilbert Plains, Emerson Tycholes (fiancé Nick Machibroda) of Dauphin, daughter Sherry and husband Kevin Beyak, grandsons Tyson and Bryce Beyak all of Winnipegosis, son Dan Boyd of Dauphin. Brother Ron (Judy) Neill, nephews Ryan (Haley), Tyler (Carissa), niece Jennifer, great nieces Trinity, Brianna, Clara, and Riley. Nephews Neill Lee Neill (Jackie), Christopher and niece Kayleen (Victor) and great nieces Addyson, Kiera and great nephew Damien (Kathy’s family). Brother-in-law Ken Boyd, sister-in-law Diane Boyd, nephews Warren (Jen) Boyd and Wade Boyd, niece Jackie (Brad) Harper, great nieces Cayleigh and Jessica Harper and Amelia Boyd. Sister-in-law Beverly Bereza, nephew Kenton (Pat) Janzen

A Celebration of Life was held for Patricia on Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 2:00 pm from the Dauphin First United Church in Dauphin with Rev. Steve Wilson officiating.  

Interment followed in the Riverside Cemetery.

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Patricia may be made to Diabetes Canada or to the Dauphin General Hospital Palliative Care Unit.

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