Kathy Jo Boyer

Kathy Jo Boyer passed away September 29, 2023.  Her sense of humor and quick wit endeared her to all who knew her.  She was born April 2, 1952 to Harold Zimmer and Edna Katherine “Kitty” Tanquary in Oak Hill, West Virginia.  She was raised in Anacostia until her family moved to Suitland, Maryland. 

Her favorite thing to do growing up was reading.  She loved books from an early age.  Kathy enjoyed visiting her West Virginia relatives in the summertime. 

After graduating from Suitland High School, she attended the University of Maryland where she met her future husband, Raymond Boyer.  They were married on May 5, 1973 and moved to Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines where Ray was stationed in the Navy.  While there, Kathy enjoyed the friends she made, the tropical weather, and local food, especially lumpia. 

In November 1974, they returned to the Washington area, living in Forestville while Ray was stationed at the Pentagon.  They settled in Laurel, bought a house in 1976 and their son, Steven, was born in 1978.  After being a stay-at-home mom, Kathy returned to the University of Maryland and finished her degree in Education, graduating in December of 1992.  In January of 1993, she was hired as a history/social studies teacher at Laurel High School.  She loved teaching and treated the students as if they were her own children. 

After retiring from teaching, she loved being a grandmother to “her boys” Jack and Noah.  She was an Anglophile, enjoying British TV shows such as Doctor Who and British history.  She was an active member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Highland and participated in the Determination of Vocation (DOV) program for the Diocese of Maryland.  As part of the DOV program, she helped mentor candidates interested in becoming a deacon or priest in the Episcopal church. 

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Raymond Boyer, son Steven Boyer, his wife Lisa, grandsons Jack and Noah, and sister Gail Turner.  She was predeceased by brothers Phil and Jack Terry.

She loved people, especially her family, friends, and students.  Whenever she would run into a former student, the love and respect for each other was obvious.  She will be tremendously missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Highland, MD or a charity of your choice.

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