Martha Boyer

~~Martha Madred Best Monroe Boyer, age 90, passed away on Saturday, September 9, 2017, in Biloxi, MS.
Born to Col. Lee James Best and Martha Madred Hood Best in 1926, Mrs. Boyer lived a full and meaningful life always surrounded by friends and family and never turned an animal in need away.  She graduated from Dunn High School in 1943 and Greensboro College in 1947 with a BA in English.  Following her education, Madred was an English teacher at George Washington High School in Danville, VA.
She had an adventurous soul and loved to travel, which began with her departure from North Carolina in 1948 with her husband Joe Monroe taking the train to Wisconsin, where they began their 37 year marriage, raised five children, and lived for 25 years.  Their travels together led them around the globe to places such as Egypt, Singapore, the Caribbean, and Europe.  Madred loved people, and she developed long term friendships as they later lived in New Jersey, Vermont, the suburbs of Philadelphia and Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.  Madred's first husband Joe passed away at an early age in 1985 and she later married Robert "Bo Bo" Boyer of Boyer Candy in 1989.  This thirteen year marriage was also filled with friends, family, and travel until Bo Bo's death in 2002.  Following his passing, she returned to her home state of North Carolina and the beaches of Oak Island.  She loved the ocean and became a familiar face as she walked the beach collecting shells and feeding the seagulls.  Some of her happiest times were sharing her life stories with her children and grandchildren, and she was always willing to help others and serve her community.
Madred was a life member and former board member of the Friends of the Hollidaysburg Library, life member and former board member of the Altoona Council, Navy League USA, Elder in First Presbyterian Church of Hollidaysburg, PA, Regent of Adam Holliday Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution in Pennsylvania, former member of Hollidaysburg Women's Club, life member of Presbyterian Home Auxiliary, veterans hospital volunteer representative for DAR, member of Historic Hollidaysburg, member of Blue Knob Ski Club, member of Southern Alleghenian Museum of Art, member of the Altoona Symphony League and the Oak Island Red Hat Society.  Madred became a member of the NSDAR in June of 1977, where she held various offices such as Regent, Chaplain, and National Defense Reporter.  She served as Chaplain for the Brunswick Township, NC DAR for two years upon her return to Oak Island.  She was a member of the Oak Island Presbyterian Church, Caswell Dunes, and the Arboretum House.  For the last three years, Madred lived in Gautier, MS.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Joseph Masten Monroe; her second husband, Robert J. Boyer; and her sisters, Rosalie Best Johnson and Florrie Best Pulley.
She is survived by her children, Marguerite Pivarnik of Gautier, MS, Joseph Masten Monroe, Jr. of Bend, OR, Madred Monroe Slaker of Tacoma, WA, Dr. David Hood Monroe, Ph.D., of Oak Island, NC, and Dr. Thomas James Monroe, Ph.D., of Surf City, NC; brother, Lee James Best, Jr. of Dunn, NC; grandchildren, Josie Monroe Beck, Brittany Preston, Kyle Masten Pivarnik, JJ Monroe, Cameron Jo Monroe, Miranda Jane Monroe, Alaina Mackenzie Schippers, Madeleine Rose Monroe, Alexander McCallister Monroe, Janine Sakiko Slaker, and Melissa Yaeko Slaker; great grandchildren, Hayden Reed Beck and Tyler Monroe Beck.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2017, at Skinner and Smith Funeral Home, Dunn, NC, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.  Funeral services will follow in the chapel at 2:00 p.m.
Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Dunn, NC.
Memorials may be made to the Jackson County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 998, Pascagoula, MS 39568.
RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, corner of Lemoyne Blvd. and Washington Avenue, Jackson County, is serving the family locally.