Margaret Alice (Peggy) Webster Boyce passed away peacefully at home on September 29, 2021. She was a proud third-generation native of Saugatuck, Michigan. (Grandparents –John Wheeler and Anna Cowen Wheeler— Ireland, Singapore and Saugatuck, Miller Robinson and Abigail Wheeler of Saugatuck, Parents—David Cox Webster (Wilmette IL) and Anna Irene Robinson (Saugatuck). Peggy was born on July 23, 1932, at the Saugatuck Hospital, which was located in a building still in use behind the City Park. The Webster family lived on a farm on Indian Point, at the end of 131st St. in Saugatuck Township.
She was a 1950 graduate of Saugatuck High School. She and James Boyce III of Gibson were married for over 50 years. The couple met when Peggy was waitressing and Jim washed dishes during the summer at Louise Hiestand’s “Edgewater Inn” restaurant. They raised eight children at 275 North Street in Saugatuck, except for eight years where they lived in the Wheeler House (built from Singapore lumber pieces) (“The Buffalo House”—Old Post Office) at 328 Butler St.
Peggy began drawing and painting while she was raising her young children, taking after her mother (Oxbow) and grandmother (Chicago Institute of Art), who were artists themselves. As an early member of the Saugatuck Douglas Art Club, Peggy would take the kids, a blanket, peanut butter, and jelly sandwiches and her paintings to the Village Green Park and display her work at the original Clothesline Art Fairs.
In the 1970’s she began studies at Grand Valley State, taking her youngest kids to class with her and attending classes year-round. She graduated with a B.A. in Art Education. While teaching Art and other Craft classes at West Ottawa High School, she completed an M.A. at Western Michigan University and then taught Art Education classes at Grand Valley, as well.
During this time, she continued painting, jewelry making, and pottery. She founded an artist co-op at 347 Water Street, which became the Discovery Art Center. After her retirement from teaching, the Co-op continued to operate for 25 years. Peggy and 11 other local area artists sold their Arts and Crafts from May through December.
Peggy led a very active life, never doing one activity at a time. She coordinated and led Campfire Girls and Cub Scouts for her children; she was an area Coordinator for Youth For Understanding exchange students (and made sure that five of her eight kids were exchange students too.) The Boyce’s hosted numerous exchange students from Europe and South America. As well as providing a temporary home for “displaced” local kids
She was a life-long member of the First Congregational Church of Saugatuck where she sang in the Chancel Choir for over 50 years. She held many offices in church government and taught countless Sunday School and Vacation Bible School classes. She also sang in the Evergreen Chorus for many years.
When her kids were in high school, she was a Trustee of the Saugatuck School Board. Throughout most of her adult life, she was a very active member of the Saugatuck-Douglas Art Club. On the Historic Commission for the City of Saugatuck, she helped to create and maintain the Historic District in Saugatuck. She was honored to be Saugatuck’s Citizen of the Year after she retired. She also served on the Allegan County Jury Board for over 30 years.
Peggy loved to travel. She went to Europe several times on tours with West Ottawa teachers. She and her husband drove out west several times to see relatives in California and New Mexico. They also took a railroad and ferry trip to Alaska. She also toured with the Evergreen Chorale. She saw many important sights in the Holy Land, and she was able to visit Italy and Pompeii as well. She traveled to Japan and Brazil to visit her own children or the families of former exchange students. Her last big trip was a cruise to see the Panama Canal.
Her husband, James Boyce III, and her son, James Webster Boyce, precede her in death. She is survived by her children—Catherine Ann Brockington, Victoria Jean Boyce, Linda Sue Kinnaman (Mark), Virginia Gail Berghuis (Gordon), Robert Alan Boyce, (Kristyn), Michael Sean Boyce, and Christopher John Boyce.
Also, she has 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Peggy to the Saugatuck Douglas Art Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 176, Saugatuck, MI 49453 or The First Congregational Church of Saugatuck, P.O. Box 633, Saugatuck, MI 49453. Visitation will be at the Dykstra Funeral Home – Saugatuck Chapel, 520 Lake Street, on Tuesday, October 5, from 3:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Saugatuck, 296 Hoffman Street, on Wednesday, October 6 at 1:00 p.m Masks are encouraged, please.
Funeral arrangements are under the auspices of the Saugatuck chapel.
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