Gary Kent Boyd was called home to be with his Lord on April 19, 2026, in Brownwood, Texas, at the age of 93. A funeral service for Mr. Boyd will be held at 1 P.M. Monday, April 27, 2026, in the First Baptist Church Brownwood. A reception for the family to greet friends at 2 P.M. Monday, April 27th immediately following the funeral service. Graveside comitial at the Evergreen Cemetery in Gustine TX, Comanche County, will be held at 4 P.M. Monday, April 27th following the funeral and reception.
Gary was born to Arbie Nathan Boyd and Mabel Boyd in Ralls, Texas, on January 24, 1933. He is preceded in death by his parents. Gary is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Sarah Huff Boyd, son Kent (Monica) Boyd of Temple, Texas, daughter Elizabeth (Patrick) Clevenger of Brownwood, Texas, and daughter Kathryn (Dave) Krueger of Lakeway, Texas; grandchildren Nathan (Erica) Boyd, Kinsey (Austin) Oates, Carrington Boyd, Jonathan Boyd, Haleigh (Charles) Lewis, Isabel Clevenger, Owen Krueger, and seven great-grandchildren.
After graduating from Rising Star High School, Gary attended Tarleton State College and was active in ROTC before serving three years in the Army and achieving the rank of second lieutenant. Following his military service, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in 1958. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1961 and then earned his Master of Education from Southwest Texas State University in 1969.
Gary met Sarah in 1962, and the two were married in San Antonio, Texas, on June 8, 1963. Gary taught for several years at Alamo Heights Junior High and served in a bi-vocational role as pastor at Government Hill Baptist Church in San Antonio. He began his first full time pastorate in 1970 at the First Baptist Church in George West, Texas. In 1977, he was called to the First Baptist Church of Coleman, Texas, where he served until his retirement in 1997. Gary continued to preach on an interim basis for years at several churches in Central Texas, most notably serving in an interim role as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Anna, Texas, for seven years. During his career, he served in several leadership roles including executive board member for the Baptist General Convention of Texas and as trustee for the Baptist Memorials Center, in addition to numerous local civic and community groups.
Being a husband to Sarah and a father to Kent, Elizabeth, and Kathryn were the most important aspects of Gary’s life. He enjoyed traveling with his family, which included camping trips, skiing trips, and cruises. Through the years, family destinations included both the East and West Coasts, Canada, Russia, and South America. Even after their children were grown, Gary and Sarah continued to travel and visited several countries in Western Europe and the Middle East.
Gary especially enjoyed spending time at the family farm in Gustine, Texas. The farm has been in the family since the late 1890’s and was his place to unwind and recharge. Working at the farm was his primary hobby. He ran cattle for 40 years and spent untold hours on a tractor, working the land. Because Gary was an only child, he was especially close to his cousins. They continued to meet at least annually even in recent years.
Gary will be lovingly remembered by family and friends for his faithfulness and consistency in ministry as well as his love for his family. He is dearly loved and deeply missed, but those who love him are comforted knowing that he is now made whole in the presence of his Savior.