Photo above, "courtesy of Katherine Mildred Beryl WADE."
The following are obituary profiles courtesy of The San Juan Journal and provided by Eleanor Louise Boyce-Johnsom.
Orrin Randolph Pliley-Boyce and Sarah Jane Evans
San Juan Pioneer Summoned By Death
Orrin Boyce Resident of County Seventy-Two YearsMarch 17, 1932
Orrin R. Boyce, a resident of the county for 72 years, passed away Sunday, March 13th, 1932, at the family home near Argyle. after a brief illness brought on by the infirmities of old age and declining heath for the past year.
Orrin R. Boyce was born in California, November 25, 1854. When a small child he came with his parents to Victoria, B. C. In 1858 the family moved to San Juan Island, taking up their residence at "Old San Juan Town"- American Camp, at the time the deceased was four years old. At the time of his death Mr. Boyce was 77 years, three months and 18 days of age.
July 4, 1874, he was married to Sarah Jane Evans of Victoria, B. C. He is survived by his sorrowing widow and six children, namely: Mrs. Alice Davis, Mrs. Laura Sweeney, Stephen H. Boyce, Mrs. Addie McCreary, Mrs. Henrietta Lindsay, and Ben F. Boyce.
The deceased made his home on San Juan Island from 1858 until the time of his death, and was familiar with the early history of the Islands, as well as experiencing all the hardships and the pleasures of the pioneer, and in playing his part in the development of the community.
On June 5, 1931, at the meeting of the San Juan County Pioneer's Association, Mr. Boyce was given the silver trophy for the honor of being the oldest continuous resident in the county. At that time he had resided on the Island for 72 years.
The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon, from the Friday Harbor Presbyterian church, interment in the Valley cemetery.Pioneer Island Lady Summoned
Mrs.Orrin Boyce Dies at Daughter's Home in SeattleDecember 15, 1938
Mrs. Orrin Boyce, for many years a resident of San Juan Island, passed away December 6, 1938, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John McCreary, 1101 North Lake street, Seattle, following along period of failing health. Prior to moving to Seattle Mrs. Boyce resided on San Juan Island 42 years.
Mrs. (Sarah Jane Evans) Boyce was born in Central Point, Minnesota, September 28, 1855, and at the time of death was 84 years, two months and eight days of age. In her early girlhood she came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Evans, to Victoria, B. C., where she lived until July 4, 1874, when she was married to Orrin R. Boyce. Mr. and Mrs. Boyce then came to San Juan Island to make their home where they resided until the death of Mr. Boyce, March 13, 1932, when Mrs. Boyce went to Seattle to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. John McCreary.
She leaves to mourn her death, six of her eight children, two sons, Stephen Boyce of Tacoma, and Benjamin Boyce of Friday Harbor; four daughters, Mrs. Alice Davis of Friday Harbor, Mrs. Laura Sweeney of Seattle, Mrs. Addie McCreary of Seattle, and Mrs. Henrietta Lindsey of Sacramento, California. There are 11 grand-children, and five great-grand-children. She also leaves one sister, Mrs. George Handley of Tacoma, and one brother, Mr. Harry Evans of Victoria, B. C.
Mrs. Boyce was a generous and kindly person and had a wide circle of Island friends who regret her passing. The funeral was held Friday afternoon from the Friday Harbor Presbyterian church with Rev. Sam McIvor preaching the sermon. Interment was under auspices of Harry King local funeral director, in the family plot in the Valley Cemetery.
