David Sumner Boyd, 59, Was Edgartown Fisherman

David Sumner Boyd of Tennessee, formerly of Edgartown, succumbed to a two-year battle with lymphoma on August 2 at home, surrounded by his loving family.

David was born on the Island on May 12, 1949 to Olga (Jordan) and Clifford Boyd (both now deceased.) He attended the Edgartown elementary school and the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. While living on the Island, David made a living by commercial fishing off the Dana Jay and the Captain Fritz and scalloping. The ocean was always a big part of his life, as were his close Edgartown buddies who would gather at the Edgartown coffee shop each morning. David had a special knack for telling the most intriguing stories.

When he wasn’t fishing he was honing in on his second love, woodworking and building. David was a strategic thinker and a visionary who was innovative and creative. He built himself two houses on the Island from the ground up, one in Sea Glenn and one in Ocean Heights. He became a very talented woodworker, builder and craftsman.

Eventually, David moved to Florida to venture into swordfishing. He married Bonnie Vanderweis and they had three children, Mathew and Austin of Florida and Kayleigh of Colorado. The marriage ended in divorce.

David then met and married Patricia Childress and they moved to Tennessee. He adopted her two young daughters, Sarah and Scarlet. Trish had a real estate business and David went forward with his building, creating meticulous work and contributing generously with his knowledge, expertise and his skills.

David and Trish eventually built a horse farm, raising show horses and traveled around to horse shows. David spent many hours watching old westerns, war stories and the history channel. He was known as Pa to his two young grandsons Alden and Avery. Alden accompanied David to his chemotherapy and radiation treatments and doctors appointments and helped care for him during the last couple of months when he was restricted to bed.

David, Trish and family have lived in Tennessee for the past 17 years. They were hoping to visit the Island this summer so that David could reunite with his Island friends and relatives and walk the land where he was born and raised one last time. Unfortunately, his illness didn’t allow this to happen. His brother, Terry Boyd, and his nephew, Aaron Boyd were able to travel to Tennessee to spend some quality time with him. Many of his close Island friends contacted him in Tennessee and he thoroughly enjoyed reminiscing with them.

David was a man with a big heart. He had a great sense of humor with a rare friendliness and charming personality.

He is survived by his wife, his children Sarah (Boyd) Medley and her husband William, Scarlet Boyd and her loving partner Kelly Stewart; Kayleigh, Matthew and Austin Boyd; two grandsons, Alden and Avery and one step-grandson, Trevor Medley. He is also survived by two brothers, Jimmy Boyd and Terry Boyd of Vineyard Haven; nieces and nephews Christian Boyd of Mississippi, Carla Coburn of Edgartown, Aaron Boyd of Edgartown, Curtis James Boyd, Gabe Boyd and Erika (Davies) Boyd. He is also survived by his aunt and uncle Margaret (Sissy) and Curtis Boyd of Edgartown and first cousins Richard, Patricia and Michael Boyd and Michael and Lenny Donaroma.

Interment was at the Brick House Cemetery at Roland Station in Tennessee.

SARAH (BOYD) MEDLEY, MCMINNVILLE

THIS WAS A VERY NICE ARTICLE ABOUT MY FATHER. HE WAS EVERYTHING THE PIECE STATED OF HIM AND SHOW MUCH MORE. I WISH THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CARRY THROUGH WITH THE PLANS TO BRING HIM UP THERE LAST YEAR, BUT WAS UNABLE DUR TO HIS HEALTH. I WILL BE FOREVER GREATFUL THAT HIS BROTHER, TERRY AND NEPHEW, AARON WHERE ABLE TO COME AND SEE HIM. HIS NEPHEW, CHRIS AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, WENDY WHERE ALSO ABLE TO COME AND HE TALKED ALOT ABOUT THESE SPECIAL TIMES IN HIS LAST DAYS. I WISH THAT THE FAMILY WOULD CONTINUE TO BE CLOSE. MAYBE IN TIME AND WITH UNDERSTANDING IT CAN BE. AGAIN, THANKS FOR THE ARTICLE. ALSO A SPECIAL THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT SENT CARDS AND FLOWERS. I KNOW HE HIS OUT ON A BOAT, HAULING IN THE BIG LOAD, OR WATCHING RERUNS OF THE CELTICS CHAMPIONSHIP! MEDLEYFAMILY37110@HOTMAIL.COM

March 4, 2009 - 11:12am

Patricia McKeown Boyd, Woodbury, Tennessee

My beloved husband David, how I miss him in my life. I feel him around me all the time. Approaching 10 years since his passing, each day has been a struggle. So Blessed to have had him in my world. Everything said is so true, and much more. We shared a happy life and enjoyed weekend spur of the moment get a ways, to see so many different things. He was surely my rock and I was his. Always kind and good to me, and to my Parents who lived close to us during our married life. I know he is waiting on the other side for me, and one day we will be together again. Someone that was taken much to early. So happy he was able to spend time with his brother Terry and his nephews Aaron and Chris. He so enjoyed that. His best friends here in Tennessee that he worked with were Clint Walker and Tony McBride. They shared many good times at work daily. They have always watched out for me since David passed, as they promised they would. We talk about him often and they reflect back laughing, at all the funny things he would say. We laughed, loved, and cried together, but mostly we laughed. I will miss him everyday of my life until I pass over. Thank You for writing this wonderful discription of much of his life.

July 22, 2018 - 9:58am

Scarlet Boyd Stewart, Cookeville TN

Dear Dad, Today would have been your 70th birthday celebration. We visited your gravestone today. Listening to the rushing water, it was almost as if the ocean waves were crashing in. You were the type of father that every child should get to have in their life. You were always present, never sitting on the side lines. You loved adventure, good music and movies. You loved cooking and eating great food. Never afraid of trying new things or having big dreams. You overcame many difficult obstacles, people in your life failed to treat you well and you never let that change how you loved unconditionally. I cherish all the moments we ever spent together laughing and learning. You taught me to play chess , coached our basketball teams. You unintentionally taught me your impatience and need to have everything organized. You taught me creativity and style. You always told me the truth even if it was something I did not want to hear. You were always there to rescue every hurt, comfort every cry. I miss you terribly every day, I wish you could have been beside me when I was married, I wish you could have played with my children. I just wish you were here with us and we had more time together. But above all, I wish more things in your life would have gone your way, I wish you would not have had to work so hard, and I wish to be even a little like you. Having you in my life made me the person I am and made my life more worth living. Happy Birthday, Daddy! Until our next bowl of kale soup together I will be sending all my love eternally. Thank you for allowing me to be your daughter, I always felt your love and knew I was loved by you as you loved all your children. R.I.P David Sumner Boyd May 12, 1949- August 02, 2008.

May 12, 2019 - 5:20pm

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David Sumner Boyd, 59, Was Edgartown Fisherman

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