Lucille Boyce Myers

I have chosen to honor my mother Lucille Boyce Myers. She is at least a third generation Iowan and to me exemplifies courage, fortitude, and a caring concern for others. She was born in the Newell area on a farm owned by her parents Lewis M. and Julia M. Prescott Boyce on September 18, 1908. According to mother, her grandfather Mortimer D. Boyce, had the largest apple orchards in western Iowa and possibly the entire state. Mother remembers as a child climbing apple trees and eating delicious applesauce made by her Aunt Mae Boyce. In the fall people came from miles around to get apples.

Lucille knew from the time she was a young girl that she wanted to be a teacher. The rural school was very near to the family home where the teacher roomed and boarded. Lucille before she was old enough to officially attend used to "run away" to school. The teacher would let her sit at one of the desks and do "paper work". In later years she was the teacher's helper with the younger students. By the time Lucille graduated from Newell High School she was on her way to being a teacher herself. She had already completed the required work during her final two years in high school that earned her a two year certificate allowing her to teach in Iowa’s rural schools and during this time if a teacher were ill she was asked to fill in for her.

Lucille’s first official teaching assignment was in a rural school near Rockwell City. She went on to receive her education degree from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. From there she taught four years in Indianola at Hawthorne School.

Then on June 20, 1934 she married Milo Alfred Myers a music instructor and they moved to Eldora where dad was the band and orchestra teacher for the Eldora school system.

Lucille had fallen from a horse when she was ten and it was at this time that she had her hip fused. She was in a cast for six months. Years later the University of Iowa Hospital called in all the people that had received this procedure. Mom was surprised to learn that she had the least pain and problems with her fusion. I’m sure due to her nature she was much too busy with others to dwell on her problems.

Lucille was content to establish their home participate in community and church activities and begin to raise a family. I, Julie, (now Julie Myers Shadle) was born in 1941 and my brother David L. Myers in 1947.

On my tenth birthday in March of 51 mother was asked to complete the school year at the Iowa State Training School for Boys located on the edge of Eldora. She did this and stayed for 25 years! She was a devoted English and Language Arts teacher to the boys who attended school half days and a work study program the other half. She taught the same classes to a different group of boys in the afternoon. This schedule worked well because she had a long noon hour between classes and could come home for lunch with the family. I have always admired the stamina she had and the ability to balance a career and family in a cheerful and enthusiastic manner.

One of Lucille’s accomplishments was to help name one of the new dormitories on the Training School campus. She suggested naming it Ella Stewart Hall after one of the early teachers there who was also one of the founders of P.E.O. a philanthropic and educational organization for women of which mother is a member. It was always special to her to be teaching in the same room that Ella did many years before. Ella Stewart’s picture hung in that classroom and now is in the foyer of Ella Stewart Hall.

In addition to her career mom will be remembered in the town of Eldora as a caring friend not only in thought but also in action. She would be one of the first to take food to a sick friend or a bereaved family. Christmas was a bright spot and a busy time for her. She spent many evenings baking cookies and making candy so we could prepare plates of goodies to take to others. She is the best divinity candy maker I know! One year she was featured in the Waterloo newspaper for her cooking skills. She was also called on frequently to give programs for various groups. Her literary interest added to her skill in presentation made her welcome on any program agenda. For many of these she created poetry to help illustrate her thoughts.

In 1974, Lucille retired from teaching but not from life. She continued to be active in educational endeavors which included helping students to appreciate books. She was especially recognized for her efforts in working with the Reading is Fundamental program at the state school when she was presented the Margaret McNamara Certificate of Merit in 1984. She had assisted with nearly every RIF distribution since the program was started in 1978. A favorite gift to her three grandchildren, Stacy, Stephanie, and Eric Shadle, has always been her strength and comfort.

Lucille and Milo were married 56 years at the time of Milo's death. This was a great loss for mom and all of us. Her son, DAvid, died in 1994...another great loss. And what parent ever thinks they will outlive their children? Through these tragedies mom's faith has been her strength and comfort.

Lucille currently resides at Elora Manor. She is a member of the Methodist Church, P.E.O., Eastern Star, Mother's Club. Hospital Auxiliary, and Bridge Club. She enjoys drama, literature, music and playing solitaire. She also likes ice cream, chocolate and picnics.

Lucille continues to brighten her surroundings, and she is a heroine that is a fine example for all of us.

Lovingly,

Julie Myers Shadle