Ralph Clayton “Doc” Loyd
October 30, 1926 – March 5, 2008
Ralph Clayton Loyd, was born in Dallas, TX, Oct. 30th, 1926. The family soon moved back to their family home in Arkansas. He enjoyed his childhood playing with cousins on their grandparent’s farm. When Doc was eight and his sister Christine just a few months old, their father was killed in a car accident. In an already difficult financial time, the depression, his mother went back to school and received her teaching certificate. When Doc was in High School, life was shadowed by World War II. His family moved to Riverside, California where his mom got a job at a military base. Mattie, Doc’s mother, met and married Gerald Reilly who completed the family. There they enjoyed the larger military and high school community. Doc would talk often of families looking out for each other, celebrating together, rolling up the carpets and dancing, bonfires, playing guitars and singing. It was a season made even sweeter when he met Rose Marie Miramontes. She was the love of his life. When Dad was eighteen and about to leave for the Army Air Corps’, he and Rosie were married.
The war now over, Doc returned to California, Rosie and precious daughter Sherrin Lea. He completed his education at Heald’s School of Engineering. He received his Civil Engineers license and worked for Alameda County in the roads department for the next 35 years.
Sherrin was joined by four more siblings, Randy, Lee, June and Neil. Doc had a high commitment to family life. We enjoyed many vacations camping, discovering and appreciating God’s created beauty. Dad taught all of us to play the guitar and we enjoyed chores, car trips, camp fires...while we were singing.
Doc and Rosie were valued participants in Faith Lutheran Church, PTA, Boy and Girl Scouting. Doc often taught First Aid training and back country survival, securing his nick name “Doc”. After many years of service, he received the Boy Scout’s highest honor, the Silver Beaver.
After retiring, Doc and Rose moved to Golden, Colorado. Doc joined the Elks Club and an antique tool club. He also continued singing, with his wonderful baritone voice, in his church choir. Doc and Rose were also Hospice volunteers. They made fast friends with people from their church sharing music, laughter and life together.
Doc and Rose also enjoyed the opportunity after retiring, to travel. They spent mom’s retirement money on a six month trip discovering Europe. They loved new places, people, food, music...They were always adventuresome. For their 50th wedding anniversary, they went to The Holy Land. Their favorite travel was to visit their children and 12 grandchildren; Kyle, Christopher, Mark, Jennifer, Calee, Amy, Caleb, Brady, Kate, Kelsey, Nicole, and Justin.
Quote? He had a long standing joke. “Hey Skinner, did you take a shower today?” Reply, “why no Doc, is there one missing?”
One of our favorite “pictures” of Dad is when mom was dying. She was home in the living room in a hospital bed. My brother Lee was eating some snacks and she asked him for an apple, then a cracker than cheese. He then teasing asked her if she also wanted wine with her cheese. When she
said “YES!” she would, Dad found his best bottle of wine, pulled out his finest wine glasses and we all gathered to celebrate the moment together. That is Dad, always celebrating the precious moments of life.
Memorial gifts can be made to Westwoods Community Church 4980 Kipling St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 or to the Alzheimer's Association 455 Sherman St., #500 Denver, CO 80203.
