Harold Gene (Shelton) Boyd, age 78, after a short battle with brain cancer and a stroke, departed this earthly life for heaven Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. He was born Oct. 26, 1941, in Alicia, Arkansas to William Eugene and Velma Chastain Shelton. On Oct. 27, 1945, he and two brothers joined the family of Ernest Lee and Velma Boyd.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Martha (King) Boyd; son, David and spouse DeBora Woolery Boyd; daughter, Vallerie and spouse Montgomery Watts; grandchildren Kevin Boyd, Megan Cargill and Andrew Cargill; great-grandchildren, J.J., Kala, and Jaxson; brothers, William (Bill) Boyd, Winston (Denny) Boyd, Bernard Boyd, Royce Boyd, Michael Boyd and Johnny Boyd, and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents and one brother, James Boyd.
Early in life Harold simply envisioned himself as “a jack-of-all-trades but master of none.” He practiced many trades during his life including working in the chicken processing plants in Batesville, then in the 1960s as a barge hand on the Mississippi, Tennessee, and Illinois Rivers as well as the Gulf of Mexico hauling some of the Saturn rockets to Cape Canaveral for use in the space race to the moon, and where he had the pleasure of meeting the great rocket scientist Wernher Von Braun several times. He went into business for himself owning/operating a backhoe and hauling service for many years. After selling that business he became owner/operator of the Maytag appliance dealership and service in Batesville and later added Cave City. Heat/air service was added to his appliance repair business. He was also a licensed plumber, electrician, septic system installer and inspector as well as a dairy barn inspector and held international security clearance. He once remarked that he had so many licenses he could not carry all at once. In addition to all of this, he was an avid sportsman and enjoyed raising catfish and striving to grow the biggest, juiciest strawberries and blackberries in the area. Each year he filled a whole freezer with these products and part of another with wild game.
About midway in life after serving several years as a deacon in his church he began his greatest career as a Missionary Baptist Preacher. He went on to pastor several churches mostly in Northern Arkansas and some in Central Arkansas. He became a part of the Arkansas prison ministry, preaching to inmates of the Cummings Unit. The message to them was simply that, “No matter what you have done in this life, God can forgive you and save your soul.”
Harold was so thankful for many things such as the accomplishments of his children, many friends, and church family; Hospice of North Arkansas services; especially Sunny and Judy; never being dependent upon welfare; but most of all, his security of knowing his eternal destination after this life.
We say goodbye to the shell of a human left behind and rejoice in knowing his spirit rests with God. Those of us that are saved by the grace of God know we will be joined with him in heaven at our appointed time.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. at the Qualls Funeral Home Chapel in Cave City with Bro. Patrick Trusty and Bro. Phillip Lewallen officiating. Burial will follow in the Parsley Cemetery east of Cave City near Calamine Arkansas. Arrangements by Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City.
Visitation will be Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Andrew Cargill, Caleb Lewallen, Kenny Boyd, Steven Boyd, Nathaniel Eddington, Johnathan Boyd, Wyatt Jones and Daniel Bates.
Memorials may be made to Parsley Cemetery Fund, 3040 AR 58 E, Cave City, AR 72521; McAdams Cemetery Fund c/o Bank of Cave City; Old Lebanon Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 105, Lynn, AR 72440; Hospice of North Arkansas, 330 Highway 5 North, Ste 20, Mountain Home, AR 72653; or a charity of donor’s choice.
“and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
