Louise R. Boyd

Reverend Louise Reif Boyd was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 8, 1941 and passed away as a result of Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 80 on February 3, 2022. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, two uncles and aunts, one first cousin, father and mother Jack W. and Elsie Reif, her husband Thomas W. Boyd, and her nephew Thomas S. Reif. She is survived by her sister-in-law and brother JoAnn and Jack L. Reif, niece Amy E. Reif, and Thomas Boyd’s daughter Lori Boyd Miller. She was born while her family lived in Monfort Heights, Ohio and shortly after birth relocated for five months to Dallas, Texas because of her brother’s health issues. She returned to Ohio in the spring of 1942 and moved with her family to a home in Bond Hill in Cincinnati where she lived for two years, then moved on to home in Norwood, Ohio. Louise was a graduate of Sharpsburg elementary school and Norwood High School before entering the University of Cincinnati School of Nursing in 1959. She graduated and became a registered nurse in Ohio in 1963. Louise entered the nursing profession working with psychiatric parents. Later she obtained a job teaching nursing at the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Cincinnati. She obtained a Master of Education degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1971, then a Master of Science degree from Wright State University in 1986. Louise advanced to supervisor of the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing until it closed. She then took the position of head of staff training at the Episcopal Retirement Homes organization. Louie was always engaged in Music. As a child she was in the children’s choir at Grace Methodist Church in Norwood. She studied piano and while in high school became one of the accompanists for the girl’s glee clubs. In the high school band Louise played the tuba. She also sang in the choir at the Sharonville United Methodist Church. Even as her memory declined, when she heard the tune of a favorite hymn, she would begin to quietly sing along although she could not remember much else. Following retirement, in 1990 Louise participated on a medical mission team in Lima, Peru. While a member of the Sharonville United Methodist Church. Louise took an interest in visiting elderly and disabled church members. In order to be better qualified she took classes at the United Methodist Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio and was ordained in 1995 as a United Methodist Diaconal Minister. Later she took further studies at the seminary and qualified to be ordained in 1998 as a United Methodist Deacon. She became Associate Pastor of Parish Care at the Sharonville United Methodist Church until her final retirement in 2011. While a member of Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, Louise met and married Thomas W. Boyd in 1971. Thomas’s daughter, Lori Boyd lived with Louise and Thomas until her marriage. Thomas passed away in 2016. Following his death, Louise, who was already beginning to show symptoms of memory loss, began living in an assisted living home. Her final years were spent at SEM Haven Nursing and Memory care in Milford, Ohio. Louise was a loving and caring person with all whom she encountered. In school, in church, and even with other afflicted folks while she herself was in nursing care. Louise will be greatly missed by many who remember her and the friendship, encouragement, comfort and care she offered to them. Family will receive friends at the Sharonville United Methodist Church, 3751 Creek Rd, Cincinnati, OH 4524, on Friday, February 11th from 11:30 AM until time of funeral services beginning at 12:30 PM. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Sharonville United Methodist Church.