Shirley Boyce

Shirley loved to create paintings, pastels, ceramics, and stained glass, but above all, she loved knitting. She made beautiful sweaters, socks, and hats for her kids, who always marveled at how she could watch TV without looking at her knitting. She explored many knitting techniques and designs throughout her life, created a Boyce Designs business, and traveled with her husband Wayne to craft shows. In Grand Junction, she enjoyed many friendships in the knitting community and coordinated fellow knitters to donate hand-knit items to the Nurse-Family Partnership, and the Homeward bound shelter. She taught classes at a local yarn shop, finished others’ knitting projects, and repaired knitted items.

She grew up in Wisconsin and went to college in Chicago at Michael Reese Hospital, where she received her nursing degree. After initial entry training in Alabama, she joined the Air Force and served as an RN at the hospital at Eglin Air Force Base. She married Jim Walker, started a family, and in 1961 settled in the San Luis Valley, where she worked as a nurse. The family lived briefly in Bolivia, where she made lifelong friends with several Maryknoll Sisters and volunteered at a nonprofit medical clinic. Upon returning to Monte Vista, she and Jim divorced, and she continued working as an RN. She was part of a group of nurses that started San Luis Valley Homecare. In 1983 Shirley married Wayne Boyce, and after she retired, they moved to Grand Junction. Shirley remained active in medicine, volunteering at the Respiratory Rehab Unit at St Mary’s and pursuing training to volunteer for county emergencies.

In Shirley’s memory, the family encourages a donation to HopeWest Hospice, where she received tender and compassionate care.