Longtime Lakeside resident Ruth Constance Boyes died August 11 in a local assisted living home. She was 85 years old.
Boyes was born July 23, 1926 in Mauston, Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse with a degree in Physical Education and married Gilbert Boyes in 1947. Boyes used her Physical Education degree to coach synchronized swimming for several years at Nicolet High School of Glendale, Wisconsin. She was a talented artist, particularly in fiber arts.
Ruth and Gilbert moved to Lakeside in 1975 and immediately became involved with the community. Ruth was responsible for moving much of the Lake Chapala Society library from Chapala to its current home in Ajijic. She was a regular volunteer at the LCS library and started the “talking books” lending library there. She was a member of Needlepushers, a group making dresses for financially challenged local girls and was a member of a hiking club. Ruth was active in the Lakeside Little Theatre for many years, particularly as a stage manager and a trainer of stage managers, always helpful and generous with information for those new to the craft.
Her husband Gilbert passed away in 1987. Ruth is survived by a daughter, Debbie Boyes of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sons David Boyes of New Orleans, Louisiana and Greg Boyes of Auburn, Kansas. Her grandchildren were Nick, Alex and Kevin Boyes and Vicky Noll. She had two great-grandchildren, Kaitlin and Austin Noll.
A memorial gathering was held in her honor on August 16 at La Nueva Posada.
Ruth’s friends were many and her remarkable sense of humor and compassionate nature will surely be missed.