Dayna J Boyd

Dayna Joy Boyd, 72, a resident of Punta Gorda, Florida since 2012 passed away suddenly August 10, 2024.  Dayna was born on May 8, 1952 at Wesley Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.  Dayna was the youngest of two daughters for Fredrick and Maxine Ackerman.  She attended schools such as Tempest Junior High School graduating 9th grade in 1967.  Dayna moved to live with her older sister of 12 years Donna and Noel Resser in Jacksonville, FL until she graduated Paxton High School in 1970 in Jacksonville. 

Dayna trained to be a secretary at Kelly Girls, a secretary contract service company.  She was assigned and worked for several companies as a secretary.  She was then hired at Coleman Camping Supplier Company as a Purchaser/Buyer.  Then later for Channel 3 TV Station in Marketing and Sales. 

Boeing Aircraft Company hired Dayna in 1980.  Assigned to Boeing Computing Services, they provided training and college credits for her position.  Dayna scheduled her team of co-workers to relocate workstations, and managers offices contents throughout the Boeing Campus.  She wrote Policy and Procedures and giving presentations on the changes to Boeing management. 

She was proudly working for Boeing over 25 years of service.  Before retirement sometime in 2005, Dayna was awarded special achievement awards for outstanding performance and contribution Quality Assurance for supporting Boeing military airplanes.  Dayna supported the 737 and 737x programs.  She trained Boeing summer interns as a mentor introducing college students to the corporation of Boeing Aircraft Co. 

Dayna enjoyed animals.  She trained our cat, Smokie to ring a string of bells tied to the back door when he wanted to go out.   She also trained one cat and two dogs to co-exist together.  The cat and dogs even spent a cold winter night sleeping butt to butt.  Amazing, Dayna had the talent.  Dayna had 2 horses stabled.  She enjoyed grooming, riding, and any general horse care.  She enjoyed pickup trucks and 5th wheels.  Camping and campfires were a great joy before a nice horse ride over a 250-acre facility with campgrounds, fishing, lake, 9-hole golf course and horse riding trails.  She got so involved with the organization RAFT that she became secretary and accountant of the facility for about 3 years.  Dayna enjoyed life so much with her energy and desire to have a good time. She enjoyed Harley Davidson rides, going to Riverfest in Wichita.  She loved eating, laughing, walking along, people watching, enjoying live music a great time to be had. 

We met at the Spring festival, Riverfest on a hillside.  Gary Pucket and the Union Gap was playing in 1991.  I fell for Dayna right away, she was amazing. I had the 1976 Harley, Dayna had the two horses stabled at RAFT.  The relationship was awesome.  Laughing and telling old memories to each other as we grew older together.  It was a delight talking and enjoying each other so much. 

As the time passed, Dayna had medical issues requiring surgeries through the years and also from Fibromyalgia (a painful crippling disease).  She managed to control the pain for many years but it seemed to be on its way back into her life again.  She suffered so much pain both physically and mentally. 

Dayna was married four times throughout the years.  But as she said I was her only husband. 

Jerry Boyd of 32 ½ wonderful years 1991 to 2024. 

Surviving children: Christy Neu of Southern California, Laura Hickman of Central Florida, Levi Boyd of Kansas, and Jennifer Boyd of Western Florida. She had 10 grandchildren and 3 great granddaughters.   

She loved traveling in the summers with Laura and the grandchildren back from Florida to see Jerry who hadn’t yet retired in Wichita. 

In 2020 Jerry left Wichita for Punta Gorda to join Dayna in retirement. Dayna was the joy in his life. 

She loved gardening especially with her grandchildren.  She loved to teach them how to garden and enjoy what they grew.  Laughing and enjoying the times together.  She showed them how to catch lightening bugs in Wichita as Florida doesn’t have them.  The grandchildren were fascinated by the lightening bugs flashing their lights catching and cradling them in their little hands.  Watching the lightening bugs flash their tail, they were so amazed. 

Dayna lived such a dynamic life, it is hard to sum up in a few short words. We are praying for everyone that is missing her from their lives.