Honeoye: Age 76, Mike peacefully passed on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, NY. He was born in Honeoye, NY to the late Edward Boyd and Edith Karins. Mike is survived by his wife of 42 years, Wanda Boyd; his children: Heidi (Peter) Conlin, Terri (Kyle) Yerkes, Shannon (Christine) Boyd; his 7 grandchildren: Riley, Morgan, Elijah, Quinton, Kaylee, Colton and Grace; several nieces and nephews and his beloved dog Hope. All whom he loved and touched deeply.
“ Those who say it cannot be done should step aside and let me by. ” This accurately describes how Mike lived his life and the legacy he leaves behind. Mike was tenacious and his feet were rarely still. He championed extraordinary talent whether it be in the PBR ring, on the LA Dodgers’ field, at the NASCAR track (favoring Kyle Busch!) or on the Honeoye Bulldogs’ court. Mike’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to owning and managing several businesses throughout his formative years. His ingenuity paved his way to create and grow his career in the photo identification industry.
To honor Mike’s passions and contributions, and to give thanks for our own blessed lives, may we follow Mike’s lead and share in a laugh with loved ones by playing holiday games or tossing a baseball in the backyard with our grandchildren. Make time to race go-karts with our sons and daughters. Commit to family health and take karate lessons together. Immerse ourselves in nature’s beauty – explore country roads (use a big walking stick!), traverse the ocean’s shore of Cape May or drive around Honeoye Lake, with our spouse, on a Sunday afternoon. Stand up for that which we feel is unjust — persistently write local politicians and even take our argument to the head of Major League Baseball. Run for public office and volunteer our time devising a strength and conditioning program for high school athletes and videotape their every game for future strategizing and review. Be curious about our US History and our road to freedom by watching Civil War documentaries. Loudly whistle our favorite Johnny Cash tune and never be self-conscious to sing off-key when a line in a Willie Nelson song moves us. Play Euchre deep into the night with friends and not be afraid to try our hand with Lady Luck in the casino. Be fascinated with people, stop to learn a stranger’s genealogy at a local gas station (Mike ALWAYS initiated conversation and found a human connection, no matter where the road took him.) Continue to marvel at the divinity of the fawns who visit our salt lick and at the cardinals who perch outside our kitchen window. And when we too are in transition in our own physical life, let us take Mike’s lead and ground ourselves in the preciousness of the day. Focus our energies on the voice at the other end of the phone or the loved one beside us rather than our personal challenges at hand. May we too choose to honor our time together to learn, to laugh and to love.
Family and Friends are invited to call on and reminisce Thursday, May 30, 2019 from 5-7PM at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, 8624 Main Street in Honeoye. We invite you to join in celebration of Mike’s life at a service, also to be held at the Honeoye location, Friday, May 31 at 11AM. Interment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery on West Lake Road in Honeoye. Memorial contributions may be made to: The Wilmont Cancer Center, https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/cancer-institute/giving/make-a-gift.aspx . To share a condolence or a memory please visit www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com .
