Louis Carl Boyd

B: November 20, 1935
D: October 26, 2020

On October 26, 2020, Louis Carl Boyd passed from this world to his eternal home in Heaven. Louis was born in San Antonio, Texas on November 20, 1935.

When he was 14 years old, his father died and his mother remarried and the family moved from Texas to Oklahoma where he met his future wife.

Louis married Mildred (Tootsie) Messina, of Haileyville/Hartshorne, Oklahoma on April 9, 1954. They started their married life in McAlester, Oklahoma and moved to the Oklahoma City area in 1956.

Louis and Tootsie had five children, all with Tootsies red hair. They were very proud of all of them.

Louis started his work career as a gas station mechanic at the age of seventeen. He then worked as an international harvester mechanic then took a job as a freight line mechanic. Louis had no formal mechanical training. He learned by watching others work and natural instinct. While working at the freight line, he spent his spare time at a friend's automotive machine shop, where he learned to do machine work.

In 1963, with $500 in savings, a wife, four kids and another on the way, Louis moved the family to Norman, Oklahoma and opened his own automotive machine shop, specializing in race engines.

Louis had been interested in auto drag racing since he was a teenager, racing his own car on the backroads around Hartshorne, Oklahoma. Later, he raced the family car at the Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Then he and his friend, Buddy Rice owner of the machine shop, built a gas roadster that Louis drove, followed by a gas dragster. In the late 60's and early 70's, he hired a driver and went to the top of the field with an AA/fuel dragster in which he was very successful racing in several states. Then he had a fuel funny car that he also raced.

Louis natural abilities and his racing experience enabled him to build top quality, winning engines for drag race, circle track, drag boats, off-shore racing boats, and a lot of street hot rods. Boyd's Auto Machine (AKA Boyd Race Engine) has seen 50+ years of success.

Louis was a friend, mentor and sometimes father figure to his employees and customers alike. He was held in high esteem by many long time customers. He was always more concerned with giving his customer a powerful engine than any profit he would make.

At the age of 42, Louis felt the need to return to church. At Wildwood Community Church, he understood the meaning of the gospel and committed his life to a relationship with Christ.

With Louis' love for speed, his wife was much surprised when he decided he wanted a boat, it was not a powerful speed boat, but a nice quiet sail boat.

Louis and Tootsie sailed the waters of Lake Texoma for many years after the kids were grown. They bought a house at the lake and enjoyed good times with lake friends and other members of Caney Creek Yacht Club. After a couple of years at Texoma, Louis also bought a 40ft yacht in Martinique and sailed it to the British Virgin Islands where he kept it for several years. They had many good times sailing the BVI Islands with lots of good friends and made many good memories.

Louis’ business was a family affair. Tootsie was office manager and also worked the counter for 37 years. Nearly all his children worked in the shop in some capacity at one time or other. His son-in-law, Eric Casperson, became general manager at some point. Also, a nephew worked for him a few years. Louis was a quiet, gentle person, strong in his faith in Christ. Generous. He had a few stories he could crack you up with. He was a faithful friend, loving to his wife, children and grandchildren, and was always willing to share his knowledge and a willing hand to those in need of it.

Louis was preceded in death by his father, H.H. 'Ted' Boyd; his mother, Elyner Pearl Kerr (Boyd) (Seay) Ricks); and daughter-in-law, Patsy Boyd.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Tootsie; one brother, W.E. 'Bill' Boyd and wife Molly of Norman; a sister, Judy Griffith and husband Emmett of Staten, OR; five children all of Norman, Lana Casperson and husband Eric, Daina Williams and husband Doug, Terry Boyd, Neil Boyd and wife Barbara, and Margaret Miller; grandchildren, Lana's family-Erica Jenkins and husband James and children Henry, Charlie, Betsy Kate of Norman, Beth Ferrara and husband Dave of Los Angeles, CA, Daina's family-Andrea Grotta and husband Ian and son Isaac of Junction City, KS, Karen Burton and son Avi of Norman, Doug Williams and wife Paula and sons Forrest, Nash and Mack of Norman, Danielle Hunter and husband Clark and son Teddy of Daegu, South Korea, Collin Williams and wife Aubry of Frankfort, ME, Neil's family-Kenneth Boyd and wife Alicia and son Archer of Norman, Calvin Boyd and wife Katelyn of Norman, Rosemary Bates and husband Russell of Boston, MA, Anthony Boyd and Maria Boyd of Norman, Margaret's family-Lauren Freeman and husband Carey and daughter Thora of Oklahoma City, Jacky Miller of Norman, Madeline Rainwater and husband Adam and son Everett of McAlester, OK, William Miller and wife Emily of Oklahoma City, and their father, Marvin Miller; a special nephew, E.M. 'Bud' Griffith and wife Pam of Salem, OR; and his wife's sisters and brother.

The funeral service at Wildwood Community Church will be private, but all are invited to attend the graveside service at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2020, at Sunset Memorial Park in Norman. Masks are required and please observe social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mission Norman, 2525 E. Lindsey, Norman, OK 73071 or www.missionnorman.org.