Christina Bailer Boyce

Christina Bailer Boyce passed away May 16, 2006 at Island Hospital in Anacortes, Wash.

Christina was born June 27, 1916 at the home of her parents, William Gregory and Dorthea Peterson Bailer, in the home that still stands on Bailer Hill. She was born a third-generation islander. She had a twin sister, Wilhelmina, and joined two older siblings, Doretta and Grace.

After high school, Christina, worked in Seattle for the telephone company as a PBX operator. There she met and married Cecil Otto. She returned to her childhood home with her two daughters during World War II and was later divorced.

In 1946, she married her childhood friend, Merle Boyce. Together they farmed on Boyce Road until 1965 when they moved to the beach at Limestone Point.

Christina moved to Anacortes in 1998.

During her years on the farm and at Limestone Point, Christina always had a large garden and a large orchard. She was an excellent gardener and canned constantly. Christina spent many hours making afghans, quilts, clocks and many other crafts. Until this past year, she crocheted beautiful potholders that she loved to give to family and friends. She worked in her yard nearly every day the weather allowed.

Of her nearly 90 years, 82 were spent on the island and she was a true islander in the very best sense. For most of the 82 years, she had planted its soil and she had harvested its crop. She was a good mother, a good neighbor and a good friend.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Merle Boyce; sisters, Grace Bailer and Doretta Boyce; brother-in-law, Adrian Boyce; sister, Wilhelmina Droullard; brother-in-law, Edward; brother-in-law, Alton Boyce; and sister-in-law, Zephyr.

She is survived by her daughter, Eleanor Johnson, and son-in-law Philip; her daughter, Nola Nash; and stepdaughter, Beatrice Carpenter. She also leaves many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Also one cousin, Christa Hopting, a Bailer relative in Hanover, Germany, who has visited the Bailer descendants often.

Christina was laid to rest at the Valley Cemetery, Friday Harbor, Wash., on May 20, 2006 where four generations of her family are at rest. Christina was loved and she will be missed.

— Family of Christina Bailer Boyce