Boyd Luther Trussell

Services 10am Thursday, November 30th, 2017 at Yale Avenue Christian Church, Graveside 2pm at HIghland Cemetery, Pawnee, Oklahoma Boyd Luther Trussell peacefully passed away from this life on November 20, 2017 in his own home surrounded by his family. He was born on October 26, 1918 in Miami, AZ, a western copper mining boom-town. Later his family moved to Pawnee, OK where he spent his school-aged years. He married the love of his life, Betty Harlene Jones on February 16, 1947. He was a decorated U.S. Army Veteran, serving in both WWII and the Korean conflict. During WWII, he was commissioned as an officer in the battlefield of Southern France for multiple acts of valor. He earned numerous medals most notably the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. As a member of the 45th Infantry Division, he took part in the European-African-Middle Eastern campaign. He worked for Doenges' Brothers Ford for over 40 years and retired in 1987 as a Parts Manager for industrial equipment and power plants. He was known to his Ford cronies as "Truss" and he always accommodated his customer with his 'can-do' attitude. Boyd had a servant's heart. He gave wholeheartedly to his country, family, and community. Growing up on farm, he was an avid gardener most of his life. He had a green thumb and was known for his prolific vegetable garden. He nurtured the vegetables and in some years he had corn stalks in his backyard over 10-feet tall. He always had an abundance of fresh tomatoes that he would share with his family, neighbors, and friends. Blood, sweat, and tears and lots of love went into those plants. He enjoyed helping his relatives harvest crops and prepare the fields for the following year. He was an active member of Yale Ave Christian Church (YACC) since the late 1950's. He served in many leadership roles for the church: Deacon, Chair of Elders, Property chairman, Chair of Trustees, and Board Chairman and was on the Search Committee for the longest tenured Pastor (over 20+ years). He instilled in his children, Shelley and Marquis, the Christian value of serving and they often accompanied him to the church property to turn on/off the sprinklers (which required 2 trips/night), turned off the lights, and made sure all the doors and windows were secured. He also made sure the Baptistry water was warm and ready for Sunday baptisms, shoveled snow as needed, and spent countless hours mowing the church lawn. He was a 'jack-of-all-trades' that could fix almost anything and called upon many times to utilize this skill by YACC and Play & Learn. He volunteered his time often after working an 8-10 hour day at Doenges Brothers Ford and continued to do so after his retirement. Along with his fellow church members, he often scraped and painted the church rental properties, inside and out, and helped install siding several times. His devotion gave his daughter, Shelley a servant's heart to do a bus ministry with Church on the Move for over 5 years. Together they went on hours of visitation on Thursday nights into apartment complexes located in high crime areas without fear. He helped sack candy or make goodies bags of food on Friday nights and often went with Shelley on Saturday mornings in a school bus without air conditioning or heating to pick up the children. His daughter said the following: "I claim the scripture for both of us that if we give unto a little one in the name of a disciple, he will not ever lose his reward in Heaven. He's there now getting his crown of righteousness." Likewise, his son Marquis, picked up the role of church Property Chairman when Boyd was performing other church leadership roles. Their first task together was the fundraising and construction oversight of the existing fence along Mockingbird Creek. The last tasks they worked together, three decades later, were the planning and construction oversight of the YACC Family Life Center and the design and construction oversight of the Heating & Air Conditioning replacement of the YACC Education Wing that includes offices and Play & Learn area. Born at the end of WWI, in the era of steam and mule carts, he served in WWII and the Korean conflict, saw the nuclear age, moon landing, jet travel, and development of the internet. He demonstrated his love by his many actions. He was always energetic and full of life. He went snow skiing for the first time when he was in his early 70's, taking both his grandchildren, Shawn and Shannon, on a trip to Colorado with the church youth group. He loved outdoor activities and until his early 90's walked the 3-mile track at LaFortune park on a daily basis. Boyd and General Patton shared a common nickname: "The Old Man". However, age did not define him. Whenever asked how old he was, he always answered "Born in 1918, you do the math". He was preceded in death by his parents, Marquis and Ethel Trussell; his wife, Betty, and his sisters Alwilda Laird and Catherine Huffman. He is survived by his children Shelley and Marquis (Susan), his grandchildren Shannon and Shawn (Jennifer), and his 4 great-grandchildren: Savannah, Caleb, Hayden, and Jazmynn. The Family wishes to thank all those that cared for him (in addition to family members) including Dr. Steven Brandon Geister and his staff, the staff of Saint Francis 6-West, Saint Francis Hospice, and Lynda Turner, his part-time caregiver for the last year.

Boyd Luther Trussell

October 26, 1918 - November 20, 2017