Ethelyn I. Boyd

Ethelyn Draser Boyd, 101, of Mascoutah, IL, born Aug. 4, 1907 in Mascoutah, IL, died Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at Marka Nursing Home, Mascoutah, IL.


Ethelyn was a fifth-generation descendant of an old pioneer family in Mascoutah. Her great great grandfather, Dr. Friedrick Ernst de la Fontaine came from Karlsruhe, Germany in 1833. His wife died in Germany in 1823. He was the first physician in Mascoutah, and was instrumental in helping to establish the Bethel Methodist Church in Mascoutah in 1841. He brought his two children, Maria, 16, and Ernst, 14, to this country with him. Maria, Mrs. Boyd’s great grandmother, married one of the three founders of Mascoutah on March 25 1838, on the Hilgard farm on Highway 177, midway between Belleville and Mascoutah. To this union, the first child was born in Mascoutah December 19, 1838.


Mrs. Boyd lived over 100 years in the home in which she was born, a home designed and built in 1904 by her father George Draser Jr., who operated a lumber business in Mascoutah for 53 years. In 2002, this house was placed on the national register of historic places, as well as the adjoining house, designed and built by George Draser Jr. in 1895.


Mrs. Boyd, a graduate of Milliken University, was a teacher of biology and health in Belleville Township High School from 1930 to 1933, when she was married to Harry E. Boyd in New York City. Subsequent to their marriage, Mrs. Boyd lost her job as a teacher due to Depression-era prohibitions against married teachers.


During the following years Mrs. Boyd worked with her husband to build a successful business, the Credit Bureau of Belleville.


She and her husband enjoyed several trips around the world beginning in 1930, ultimately visiting 103 countries. For her many lectures and photographs documenting her travels, Mrs. Boyd received a citation in recognition of distinguished community service to the City of St. Louis by Mayor Raymond R. Tucker.


In 1958 Mrs. Boyd returned to teaching in Belleville Township High School West until her retirement in 1972. She helped to establish several Scholarship Trust Funds to perpetuate scholarships for worthy college-bound students. She also served as a member of the executive committee in establishing Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

In 1983 Mrs. Boyd was honored for historical preservation by the State of Illinois for an article on John Messenger, later published in Illinois Magazine.


Mrs. Boyd received the Illinois State Superior Achievement Award as a “Friend of History” in 1986 for 50 years of sustained and varied contributions to local, state, national and world history. She also received the Community Citizen’s Award from the National Grange for her community service; the Mascoutah Schools Achievement Award in 1996 for her life accomplishments; the Alumni Merit Award from Milliken University in 1998; and the Studs Turkel Humanities Service Award by the Illinois Humanities Council in 2002.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Boyd was an active volunteer in community, civic and historical organizations.

Mrs. Boyd was a founder and the first president of the Mascoutah Historical Society beginning in 1976. She was a Vice-President of the Illinois State Historical Society and served on its Board of Directors and Advisory Board from 1976 to 1986. She was a life member of the St. Clair County Historical Society, a charter member of the St. Clair County Genealogical Society, and a member of the Illinois State Museum Society.

Mrs. Boyd was a charter member of the Belleville chapter of the American Association of University Women in 1939, president of the Women’s Club of Belleville from 1956-1958, a founder of the Junior Women’s Club of Belleville in 1957, a founder of the New Athens Women’s Club in 1966, and a charter member of the Belleville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Delta Delta in 1930.


Mrs. Boyd held the title of Master Flower Show Judge from 1962 to 1996. She became a member of the St. Clair County Garden Club in 1939, the Greater St. Louis Council of Nationally Accredited Flower Show Judges in 1954, a charter member of the St. Louis chapter of Ikebana International in 1955, and a member of the Illinois Council of Nationally Accredited Flower Show Judges in 1956.

Mrs. Boyd served on the Boards of Directors of the St. Clair County units of the American Cancer Society and the Mental Health Association. She was also a life member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

Mrs. Boyd was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ.


Mrs. Boyd was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Edward Boyd, who died August 23, 1975, her parents George and Matilda Mary, nee Crossman, Draser, and two sisters, Mary Draser Lee and Lela Draser Knight.


Surviving is a nephew, George Alan (Alberta) Lee, a niece, Judith Ann, nee Boyd (Russ) Beard, two great nieces, Mary Elizabeth (Francis G.) Couvares and Rebecca Lee, a great great nephew, Peter F. (Gladys McCormick) Couvares, and a great great great niece, Amelia Couvares.


In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Mascoutah Historical Society, 202 S. Sixth St., Mascoutah, IL 62258, the Ethelyn Draser Boyd Scholarship Fund for Mascoutah Schools, PO Box 79, Mascoutah, IL 62258, or the Ethelyn Draser Boyd Scholarship Fund at SWIC., 2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville, IL 62221.


Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008 at the Moll Funeral Home in Mascoutah, IL, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 at St. John United Church of Christ in Mascoutah, IL.


Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 at St. John United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Hugh Fitz officiating. Burial will be in Mascoutah City Cemetery, Mascoutah, IL.