M Boyce Pitcher, cherished husband and beloved father, grandfather, and friend, passed away in Cache Valley, Utah September 26, 2006.

Boyce was born October 29, 1932 in Nibley, Utah to Monica Cummings Pitcher and Melvin Bernard Pitcher.

He attended school in Lewiston, Utah and graduated high school in 1950 from North Cache High. As a student at North Cache he played on the softball team, but his real interest was music. Boyce loved to sing, something he did beautifully. Long after the Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease robbed him of good communication, he could still sing all the words of an impressive quantity of songs that were deeply engraved in his heart and long term memory. He played clarinet and saxophone. The saxophone he played well right up to the final years of his life when he had to trade it in for a harmonica, which was a whole lot easier to play while driving his wife Neva‘s pink Mary Kay Cadillac. Boyce made traveling a pleasure with a constant flow of music, outrageous limericks, and can’t-be-beat buttery popcorn.

Boyce enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He served on board the USS Oriskany. When not at sea, he was stationed near Phoenix, Arizona. It was there he met his sweetheart, Neva Bentley. They were married October 2, 1952 in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. Later, they moved to Lewiston and started their own dairy farm. Boyce took great satisfaction in building his “Cream Pitcher” herd of prized registered Holsteins. There, on their modest farm, they raised five children they were proud of, four girls and one boy. Hard work was a way of life for Boyce, and integrity was his guiding principle.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he served his community unselfishly. His testimony in his savior, Jesus Christ was unwavering. He was blessed to serve as bishop when the old Lewiston 2nd and 3rd wards were combined.

Boyce is survived by his wife, Neva, their five children, Julie Fewkes (Corey) of W. Jordan, Utah, Linda Pitcher (Sharman) of Fruit Heights, Utah, Diane Stewart (Rob) of N. Logan, Utah, Chad (Audrey) of Kaysville, Utah and Geniel Pond (Chris) of Stockton, California, and 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Boyce leaves behind two dear sisters, Nola Griffin (Glen) of Trenton, Utah, and Beth Wheeler (Gary) of Lewiston, Utah.

Friends may call on the family at a viewing Thursday, Sept. 28, 6-8 p.m. at the Nelson Funeral Home in Logan, Utah (162 East 400 North), or at the Smithfield 18th ward chapel (625 East 600 South) Friday 11:30-12:30 prior to the funeral services at 1:00 p.m. Boyce will be laid to rest in the Smithfield City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at Nelson Funeral Home.

We will miss Boyce and the sunshine that he brought into our lives. We thank him for always making the trip more pleasurable than the actual arrival.