William Patrick "Pat" Boyd Obituary (1951 - 2018)

What's Not to Love! With the greatest of sadness, we share heartbreaking news. Our beloved Pat has left us. Pat died of cardiac issues after playing a game of pickleball, which he loved, with friends whom he loved. The medical team at UW Medicine, Valley Medical Center, and then at the University of Washington in Seattle, gave him their best. He was revived until he could be revived no more. Pat was born to Andrew Guy and Margaret Boyd in Vancouver, Washington, the third of six children, and spent most of his youth in Sunnyside, Washington. He attended Montana State University on a football scholarship. Fun memories were made, but after two years, Pat realized that neither football nor the university setting were a good fit. He moved to eastern Oregon to work the family ranch. A few years later, medical issues with his cherished son Andy required relocation to Seattle. With the care and expertise of the medical teams at Seattle Children's Hospital, Andy survived and thrived. Andy said about his father: My Dad was genuine, an honest man with a great heart, rock solid. Though he had many interests, what he loved most was connecting with his "people." He loved his family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. We know this because of how he made each of us feel. Pat treasured weekends in Seattle with grandsons, fabulous family Thanksgiving dinners, homemade pizza parties, and the contact he had through calls, visits, adventures, and travels with family and friends. Pat loved retirement and was everyday grateful for the wholeness of his life. Most days started at the 'Y', followed by what the day would bring, time with the coffee group [though Pat did not drink coffee], pickleball, projects at home, projects with family, projects with friends, and for too short a time, volunteering with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. And still he made time to bring lunch to the wife. Weekends were for all the things he couldn't get done during the week, including dedicated time with the wife and sharing time with family and friends not yet retired. Pat loved his work in marine construction and gave it his all. He started working for General Construction Company (GCC) in September 1977 as a loader operator, and after 37 years of service, retired in 2014 from his position as the District Equipment Manager. During those years he rose through the ranks from operator, to deck engineer, to foreman, to superintendent and finally to the leadership role of manager of General's entire fleet of equipment. What he loved most and where he excelled was being an integral part of the group responsible for maintaining, repairing, updating and building GCC's unique fleet of floating cranes and barges. He loved the equipment, but he loved his friends and coworkers at GCC even more. During his time with GCC, Pat worked first around Puget Sound and in Southeast Alaska, then led his team of professionals by assisting with nearly all of GCC's major bridge and port projects up and down the west coast from Anchorage to San Diego. In 2001, Pat was one of the first recipients of the GCC President's Award, which was given to "individuals who excel in leadership, work ethic, teamwork, integrity, innovation and, most importantly, attitude." Though their paths had crossed in earlier years, in 2001 Pat and Lisa found each other for keeps. Married in 2007, a magical life they had. Every day included shared laughter, and gratitude that they had found each other. That magical life also included piano recitals with grandsons, adventures with friends and family, and, not often enough, volunteering together. Wonderful memories were made while running the clock and keeping the scorebook when they were part of the Wheelchair Basketball tournaments held in West Seattle. Traveling together was also part of the magic. They shared lovely trips with family and friends: sailing the British Virgin Islands, visiting Rome, Paris, and especially Normandy Beach, and exploring Santiago de Compostela, Portugal, Tuscany, Niagara Falls and Acadia. Pat did not love visiting museums in grand European cities. The real adventure was finding incredible feats of engineering and construction and contemplating how they did it! Pat had an uncanny sense of direction; he was never lost in a new place. Most times he found a way to communicate even with no grasp of the local language. Long time and treasured friend, Bill, described Pat: Pat could build anything, fix everything and would help anyone. Pat loved family, fatherhood and friendship. Pat never balked at hard work, competition, and doing the right thing. And I will miss that laugh. Pat is survived by his wife, Lisa Carney; his son, Andrew (Megan) Boyd; and three grandsons, Lachlan, Cohen, and McKenon 'Mack' Boyd; his siblings, Kathy (Mike) Otis, Joe (Nancy) Boyd, Denise Dawson, Pete (Jen) Boyd, Sharon (Andy) Beach; cousins; ten nieces and nephews; and goddaughter, Leah. Pat was preceded in death by his father, Andrew Guy Boyd; mother, Margaret Boyd; brother -in- law, Jim Dawson; and his uncle, Roy Carroll and aunt, Lorna Carroll. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 17th at 2 PM, at St. Ignatius Chapel Seattle University Campus 901 12th Avenue, Seattle, 98122 Celebration of Life, at 4 PM at The Canal 5300 34th Ave NW, Seattle 98107 Remembrances may be made in Pat's name to: Seattle Children's Hospital, Donate Online at https://giveto.seattlechildrens.org/give* By phone: 800-635-1432. 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