Emily Jane Boyle

Emily Jane (Nichols) Boyle passed away peacefully in the early morning of Sunday October 17, 2021, at her home at Miramont Pointe.



Emily was born January 10, 1932, in Philadelphia, PA, the first of four children of George and Frances "Elizabeth" Nichols.  Emily's father was a professional hockey player, and as a result, the family moved around quite a lot.  She spent much of her early childhood in Rhode Island before making a big move to Los Angeles in 1941 when Emily's father ended his hockey career in search of a new career in public relations.



The constant moving around didn't stop in Los Angeles - the family lived in numerous homes and apartments, but Emily was able to complete four consecutive years at Los Angeles Unified HS, where she described life as being full of friends and good times.  During these years, George had built a career in public relations in the movie industry at MGM and RKO Studios, where Emily would eventually become a summer intern where she met many famous actors, directors and writers.



At her parents insisting, Emily went away to college, to the University of Oregon in 1949. It was there that she met her future husband, Orville "Bud" Boyle, Jr. on a blind date.  Bud was a senior and would soon be heading to OHSU Dental school in Portland.  After finishing her bachelor's degree in teaching, Emily moved to Portland to be with Bud.  They were married in Portland on March 27, 1954.  Upon graduating dental school, Bud was commissioned by the U.S. Navy and stationed in Camp Pendleton, where they spent the first two years of marriage on a lively military base where they formed many  life-long friendships. The first of Emily and Bud's four children, Thomas, was born in Inglewood, CA in 1955 and daughter Julie Anne was born in 1956 in Oceanside.  Having saved up some money living on the base, Bud and Emily took their little family back to the Portland area in 1957, where Bud established his dental practice in downtown Milwaukie and bought their first and only home on Beech Street where they lived for nearly 60 years. Matthew was born in 1958 and their youngest daughter Kelly was born in 1969.  Emily worked many years in Bud's dental practice as office manager and bookkeeper.



Given all the moving around Emily did as a child, she was determined that all of her children start and finish school in one place. She was very proud of the fact that she and Bud were able to make that a reality. The home on Beech Street was always busy, filled with kids, friends, and eventually grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Emily was a gracious host of large family gatherings and holiday celebrations, neighborhood barbecues on the 4th of July, bridge groups and the Annual Christmas Eve Open House.  Beech Street was the family home until 2017 when Emily and Bud moved to Miramont Pointe in Clackamas.



Emily and Bud enjoyed many hobbies and activities together, including golf, bridge, cooking and entertaining. They were life-long Oregon Duck fans and football season ticketholders for nearly 40 years.  She was a talented gardener and had a special green thumb when it came to her prized rose bushes.  Emily was an active member of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church and a long-time member of the Portland PEO Sisterhood.  Emily & Bud spent many vacations traveling the US, Europe, Hawaii and annual trips to Cabo San Lucas.  Each year the family would spend one week in the summer just exploring different parts of Oregon, but her favorite spot was their vacation home at Black Butte Ranch.  Emily loved visiting with friends and neighbors sitting on her back deck with a glass of wine, or at the family room table with a cup of coffee.  She loved the color yellow, warm sunshine, fresh cut flowers, Thanksgiving and soft music.



Emily's greatest accomplishment and legacy was her family, as she was deeply devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren.  She is remembered by her husband as a loving and supportive wife and partner; her children remember her selfless and unconditional love, grace and forgiveness, and unwavering support; her grandchildren will remember how she always made time for each of them as individuals, making them feel special and unique, reading books, baking cookies, coloring easter eggs, and extra-large helpings of ice cream.  Over the years, many have referred to Emily as a "second mom" "sister" and even an "honorary Grandma." To her friends, Emily will be remembered as a fun-loving dependable companion, thoughtful listener, and constant source of friendship and support.



She is survived by her husband, Orville T. "Bud" Boyle; sister, Nancy Sweet (Doug); brother, Bill Nichols; sons, Thomas Boyle (Carol) and Matthew Boyle (Kathy); daughter, Kelly Middendorff (Michael); grandchildren, Danielle Law (Donny), Tyler Boyle, Megan Boyle, Zachary Ziegler (Myesa), Gabriel Ziegler (Caitlin), Hannah Ziegler, Maxwell Middendorff, Mallory Middendorff and Mia Middendorff; great-grandchildren, Mason, Logan, Reece, Quinn, Ronin, Magnolia and Hendrix; and nieces, Katie, Susan, Kelly, Shane and Kendra. Emily is preceded in death by her daughter, Julie Anne (2016).



Family and friends who's lives have been touched by Emily are invited to a celebration of her life at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 1, 2021, Gray Gables, 3009 SE Chestnut Street, Milwaukie, OR 97222.



It was Emily's wish that any charitable donations be made in her memory to: OSC P.E.O. Marguerite Scholarship Fund (see information below)