Avis Marie Boyd (Stradley), was born in Blue Mound, Kansas October 4, 1926, to Elvin Adrian and Josephine Fern (Spillman) Boyd and passed November 15, 2020. She was the eldest of three children. She was born with red hair and freckles, a true indicator she was descended from the Boyd clan in Scotland.
Her ancestors came to America before the Revolution. One grandfather, Josiah Hall, then 22, traveled from Walpole, Massachusetts to Concord, Massachusetts to warn that General Gage’s Regulars were crossing the Charles River to march to Lexington and Concord on their way to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock and to capture military supplies. Another grandfather, Uriah Tippie, marched the 17 miles in freezing conditions, barefoot, with General George Washington to fight in the “Battle of Trenton”.
After helping to secure the new country, Avis’ family moved west, pioneering their way across the new United States. Her parents continued the pioneering way, living and farming in the Blue Mound area. She attended Country School 101 until 1938 when her family moved to Redfield. Avis graduated from Uniontown High School with the Class of 1944 and then taught at Poplar Grove Common School. As usual in one-room common schools, she was the only teacher and taught all the children in the school. She later worked at and retired from the accounting department of The Western Insurance Company.
She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Red Hat Society, and a 68-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as Worthy Matron three times, District Aide in 1983, and was a Grand Representative to Kansas in Kansas.
She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church and as head of the Sewing Circle completed several fundraising projects and she also cooked and assisted with funeral dinners.
She was a member of the IZA Stomper square dance group. She enjoyed sewing and made lots of clothes for her family including school clothes, party dresses, prom dresses and two wedding dresses.
In 1945, she married Johnnie Lloyd Allen and to that union they had six children. In 1966, Avis married James Raymond (Red) Stradley.
Avis was immensely proud of her grandchildren. They have earned A.A. and B.S. Degrees, a Master’s Degree, a Medical Degree, and Juris Doctor Degrees. They are small business owners, counselor, mechanics, information technology specialists, authors, and attorneys, and a doctor.
She is survived by all six of her children. Darlene (Irvin) Gleim, Gainesville, FL, Johnnie Lloyd (J.L) Allen, Jr., Pleasanton, KS, Joyce (Ron) Steuer, Dubuque, IA, Diana Pauzauskie, Boston, MA, Carolyn (Rick) Callow, Blue Springs, MO, and Linda (Mark) Morris, Arcadia, KS, 20 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband James Raymond Stradley; parents, Elvin & Josephine; sister, Alwilla Karleskint; brother, Dale Boyd; a grandson, Christopher Allen; and a granddaughter, Kristyn Culp-Hicks. Also preceded by two daughters-in-law, Sadie Howard Allen and Shirley Pollet Allen; and a son-in-law, Denny Ray Simmons.
Rev. Dr. Jared Witt will conduct a private graveside service on Friday, November 20th at the U.S. National Cemetery. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
