Marilyn Ann Boyce

Marilyn Ann (Colvin) Boyce was born March 3, 1936, in Lansing, Michigan to Fred and Eva (Hart) Colvin. She moved to Allegan in 1947 when her father assumed ownership of the Ford dealership. She graduated with the Allegan High School Class of 1953, which she remained involved in until her passing through helping plan the annual class reunion, regular lunch dates with classmates in the area, and correspondence with those who had moved away. She attended Michigan State University where she earned her undergraduate degree in History and English and Masters in Teaching History and Geography. On June 22, 1957, she married David Dean Boyce. They were married for 60 years when Dean passed in 2018.

Marilyn’s early career was in teaching, which she did until her children, Eric, and Jenny, arrived. As a mom, she volunteered in her children’s classrooms, served as a Brownie and Cub Scout leader, and assisted with sewing costumes for many school pageants. Between these activities and her volunteer work later in life, she most likely baked thousands of cookies. As a mom, she parented with a sense of humor. One day her daughter returned home after school to find an official looking sign on the front door, as well as one on her bedroom door. When asked what this was about, Marilyn explained that her bedroom was so messy that the Health Department had visited that day and condemned the room. If it were not cleaned up by 5 p.m. the next day, the room would be torn off the house. Needless to say, the room was cleaned up immediately! In 1975 she began working for the State of Michigan at the Michigan Employment Security Commission. She retired in 1984.

In her retirement, she and Dean traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, the British Isles, and the Soviet Union. In 2019, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Alice Springs in Australia when she traveled there with her son, daughter-in-law, and daughter. Earlier that year, she traveled with them to New Orleans and attended a performance at Preservation Hall.

Marilyn was a lifelong learner. She took gourmet cooking classes, classes to enhance her sewing skills, and enjoyed attending musical performances. She enjoyed being outside, whether it was camping, canoeing, or working in her beautiful gardens. She was an avid reader and enjoyed history and biography. She was the mom sitting in the bleachers reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich as her children took Saturday morning swimming lessons. She kept meticulous records of books she had loaned to friends. If you have a book of hers, consider it her gift to you and think of her as you enjoy it.

When she and Dean moved back to Allegan in 2000, and into the house Marilyn grew up in, she became involved in her community as a volunteer. Her interest in history took her to the Allegan County Historical Society where she volunteered, whether it was sewing covers to help preserve clothing in the Society’s collection, spending time at the Historic Village during Fair time, or participating in cemetery tours. She was also a longtime volunteer at the Generations program at the Allegan County Medical Care Community (ACMCC). It was her wish that she be at the ACMCC when she needed that level of care and her family is grateful that she was able to be there until she passed.

In 2019, Marilyn anonymously endowed two funds at the Allegan County Community Foundation. One was to benefit the Allegan County Medical Care Community, the other was to benefit the Allegan County Historical Society. She took great delight in relating the story of attending the funeral of a Historical Society member and overhearing two gentlemen theorizing if the deceased was the anonymous benefactor. With her passing, the funds will no longer be anonymous. For those wishing to honor her memory, please consider donating to the funds she endowed.

Marilyn is survived by her son Eric (Mary) of Empire, Michigan and Jennifer of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. She was predeceased by her husband Dean, parents Fred and Eva Colvin, half-brother Howard Colvin of Connecticut, and several aunts and uncles. Cremation has taken place and no service is planned at this time. A celebration of Marilyn’s life will take place at a later date. Her family would like to thank the staff of the Allegan County Medical Care Community for the attentive and loving care they provided in her final days.

While visiting www.amsfuneralhomes.com please take time to sign her guestbook and/or share a memory with her family. 

The Boyce family is being cared for by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home and Cremation Society, 129 South Grand, Schoolcraft, MI 49087 (269) 679-5622.