Master Chief Francis Herman Boyer, USN Ret., age 87, retired for the final time on May 22, 2024, at Hospice of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. The son of the late Bernard and Madeline Odell Boyer, he was born in North Adams, Massachusetts. He was raised in Williamstown and graduated from Williamstown High School in 1955. He entered the U.S. Navy the following month. He rose from Seaman Recruit to Chief Warrant Officer while working in air traffic control and retired from the Navy in 1975 after twenty years of service. He was a crew member of the USS Intrepid when the astronaut Scott Carpenter was picked up by helicopters from the ship and was aboard the USS Enterprise when the ship was diverted to the Sea of Korea during the Pueblo crisis.

Following his retirement from the Navy, he worked a variety of jobs while attending colleges in Maryland, Texas, and Massachusetts. After receiving his accounting degree from North Adams State College, he was employed by the town of Lanesborough, Massachusetts, as Town Collector. He retired from that position in 1994 and moved to Bellbrook, Ohio, where he worked as an accountant for Apollo Propane and Elam Testing Company. He retired from Elam Testing in 2005 and from Apollo Propane in 2007.

He is survived by his wife of over 67 years, the former Margaret Morrison of Xenia, OH; and by his children, Suzanne Homer of Centerville, OH, Jean Boyer of Durham, NC, Andrew Boyer of Reading, MA, and Mary Boyer of Eau Claire, WI. He is also survived by Andrew’s wife, Amy Boyer, and Mary’s husband, David Niehus. He was preceded in death by his sons, Francis “Frank” and Richard Boyer; daughters, Nancy Groom, Rebecca Hobbs, and Monica McLoota; grandson, Jacob McLoota; and his sister, Joan Bramen. He leaves seven grandchildren, Emily Homer, Rosealee Hoffman, Benjamin Hobbs, Zachary McLoota, Nicole Boyer, Vena Chen, and Tammy Chen; four great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Barrington, William Johnston, Tara Hobbs, and Megan Hobbs; and one great-great-granddaughter, Nora Jane Barrington. Also surviving are his sisters, Rosalie Richard of Wynantskill, NY, and Claire Kristensen of Lanesborough, MA, and multiple other relatives in the area.

Fran will be remembered for his quirky sense of humor and cheerful disposition. A graveside service with full military honors will be held at the family plot in East Lawn Cemetery in Williamstown, MA, at 10 AM on Saturday, June 8, 2024. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Attn: Development Department, 875 N Randolph St, Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhome.com.