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Mary Catherine Whittaker Boyd
Resident of Walnut Creek
Surrounded by family and close friends, Mary Catherine Whittaker Boyd passed away peacefully at her home on November 25, 2011 from the infirmities of Parkinson’s disease. She was 69.
Born on Pearl Harbor Day in Provo, Utah, to William and Gene Whittaker, Mary was a fun-loving, smart girl, who fancied ballet, school plays, and spending time with her sister, Martha. She had a love of fashion, and when she was in high school she learned to sew and made beautiful clothes for herself and, later, her daughters. Mary also liked baseball as a teenager, which culminated with her landing a summer job as a PA announcer and statistician for a local Pony League team.
After graduating from Provo High School, Mary earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah’s School of Pharmacy, and was the only woman in the 1966 graduating class of 34 students.
Soon after college, she completed the Utah State Pharmacy Board Examinations before moving to Los Angeles.
Mary briefly returned to Utah, living in Salt Lake City and starting her 35-year career as a pharmacist. She settled in Walnut Creek, California, in 1969 and called it home for the next 42 years.
Close friends described Mary as someone who loved beauty and the arts, as she frequented the San Francisco Opera, Symphony, and Ballet, the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and just about any art gallery or museum. Passers-by and visitors often heard Classical and Opera music wafting from her home.
But Mary was truly happiest around family and friends, all of whom remember her as a spirited woman with a lively wit who lived life to the fullest.
She is survived by Martha (Christopher); daughters Alisa (George Bibbins) and Kachina (Dan Foscalina); grandchildren Ella, Emma and Jack; extended family and many, many good friends.
Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2369 Overlook Drive in Walnut Creek. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Mary’s name to the National Parkinson Foundation (www.parkinson.org) or other Parkinson’s charity of your choice.
The family also wishes to express their gratitude to Mary’s caregivers for their unwavering dedication and love.
Please write your memories of Mary!
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Patti Murphy (Florence)
Dear Sweet Mary:
Well, Provo Girl you will be missed. I treasure all our visits and conversations in the recent years. You had such darling insights and comments. When we were at the University of Utah, I remember coming into the Union Building in between classes and we would meet up in and have fun conversations. But I never had to go too far to find you because you were right down the hall at Carlson Hall. You always called me "Trace" from my Aspen name. We had many memories of Provo.
But I loved seeing you at Lynda Lee's home and hanging out there when you came to Salt Lake. I do think of the wonderful visit we had when we came to Walnut Creek and you picked us up at the airport in your Lexus. It was quite an experience. It was so fun to have you cut your roses and put then in a vase in our bedroom. I do that to this day at my home and everytime I think of you.
I love you and always will. I will se be seeing you. Take care until then,
Love, Patti aka Tracy