AUGUSTA – Boyd Smith Webber Sr., 89, quietly passed away in his home, with his family near, on the morning of Nov. 29, 2023, following a five-year battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was born in Sister’s Hospital in Waterville, on May 19, 1934, the son of the late Wyman W. and Amanda (Boggs) aka Sally Cummings.

Boyd was raised by his maternal grandparents Robert and Myrtle Boggs on the Lamson Road and he built a house next door to them after marrying his wife, Viola in 1953. As their family grew, he build a larger home across the road where they raised their six children and spend many happy years together.

Boyd began his education in the tiny Bolton Hill Road school, moving on to Williams Elementary and Erskine Academy. He served in the Maine Army National Guard, 142nd Ord. Co. from 1952 to1955, where he began his life long career as a diesel mechanic.

He worked as a logger, gas station attendant, oil delivery driver and was a partner in a well-drilling company before he began at White and Bradstreet’s in Augusta in the early 1960s and worked until his retirement in 1998.

He was an expert welder, a wizard with hydraulics as well as truck and auto repair. His garage was the go-to place for family, friends, and neighbors who needed a helping hand with most anything, or just to have a cold beer or can of Moxie. His passion for the older model cars became a decades long hobby of restoring antique autos, particularly Oldsmobiles and Chevrolets from the late 1930s and 1940s.

Boyd enjoyed a nice drive to the coast for seafood; a good ole western movie or TV show, especially if it included John Wayne; backyard family cookouts; a nice lobster roll or cool shrimp cocktail; a friendly game of horseshoes or pool; dinner from the Red Barn or at the Chinese buffet; but mostly he likes his quiet time putter around with his projects in his garage.

Boyd is predeceased by his wife of 68 years Viola, sister Shirley (Terry), brother Vance, his son Boyd Jr. and granddaughter Rebecca.

He survived by his sons Bruce and wife Debbie of Augusta, Tom and wife Lori of China, his daughters Jean Royle of Palermo, Sue and Deb of Augusta, Patricia of Waterville; grandsons, James of Augusta, Kevin and partner Heather of Windsor, Shane and wife Tasha of Waterville, Daniel of Florida, Derek and wife Heather of Fairfield; granddaughters, Heidi and partner Matt of Florida, Katherine (Cater) and husband Seth of Lisbon, Sara (Phillips) and husband Rick of Surry, Tara and Natasha of Florida. His sister Lorraine, brothers Keith Webber and William Cummings, three greatgranddaughters , three great-grandsons, his “adopted son” Jack Mellor of Whitefield, many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Boyd’s family wishes to extend special thanks to Gail Gower-Roundtree his home health aide for all the wonderful years of friendship and care; his grandson Jim (and Mike) for many hours of assistance, errands and care; the staff at Maine Dartmouth Geriatric Medicine; and staff of MaineGeneral Hospice and HomeCare.

A private family graveside service will be held in the spring.

A celebration of life gathering will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at the Boynton-Webber American Post 179, Legion Memorial Drive in South China.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to:

Lewy Body Dementia Association at http://www.lbda.org/donate/



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