Burton Norris Boyd

Burton Norris Boyd died March 24th after a long illness. He was 89.

Burt was born in 1930 in Louisville, KY. In 1952 he graduated from the University of Tennessee where he was a member of the ATO fraternity. He served in Naval Reserve in college and went on active duty from 1954-56 aboard the U.S.S. Stormes.

After the Navy, he returned to Knoxville for graduate work in Industrial Engineering. He began a 36-year career at Tennessee Eastman in 1958 and retired in Jan 1994. Burt served as editor of Standards Engineering, the bimonthly publication of Standards Engineers Society of America. Burt was a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee.

Burt was an Eagle Scout as a boy and served as a volunteer leader as an adult, where he held many positions from Assistant Scoutmaster to various Council jobs and was awarded the James E. West Fellowship.

Burt served in many volunteer organizations throughout his life. He volunteered for Habitat for Humanity for 19 years, starting from the first house that First Presbyterian built in 1989. Upon retirement from Eastman he became disbursing treasurer. Burt received the 2013 Elizabeth Ann Hay Volunteer Service Award from Holston Habitat for Humanity.

Burt was a member of First Presbyterian in Kingsport and served as a Deacon. He delivered Meals on Wheels for nearly twenty years.

Burt is survived by Jane Adams Boyd, his wife of 55 years, his son Norris (wife Amy), and three grandchildren, Olivia, Eleanor, and Henry.

A memorial service and inurnment of his ashes in the columbarium will be held at a later date due to the pandemic.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 100 West Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660, or Alzheimer’s Regional Resource Center, 2303 N. John B. Dennis Hwy, Kingsport, TN 37660.