Chiropractor loved helping people regain their health

Early in his medical career Gary G. Boyd came home to see his father, who asked his son how much money he had made.

"I don't have a clue," he told his father, "but I know I helped a lot of people."

Dr. Boyd, 54, a chiropractor who established AcuCare Chiropractic in Elgin and lived in St. Charles for 40 years, died of cancer May 9 in Amarillo, Texas, while visiting family.

As a boy in Memphis, Mo., Dr. Boyd made sure his work was done before he played. The four Boyd brothers were taught in a one-room schoolhouse with 12 children. In 1968, the Boyd family moved to St. Charles.

Dr. Boyd received his doctorate from the National Chiropractic School in Lombard in 1979, seven years after graduating from St. Charles High School.

While at National Chiropractic, he served as student body president and received 10 awards at his graduation.

"He took just about every honor," said his brother Steven. "It was unbelievable. My little brother did so well."

Dr. Boyd was an avid sportsman and enjoyed the competitive nature of golf, water sports and basketball. He was a private amphibian single-engine pilot.

Boyd said his brother's hard work rubbed off on him.

"Even though he was younger, in a lot of ways, he was a person you followed and listened to," he said. "He had a lot of admirable abilities."

St. Charles Mayor Don DeWitte met Dr. Boyd when he arrived in St. Charles and their friendship lasted until Dr. Boyd's death.

"He had the qualities that make people want to spend time with quality people," DeWitte said of his longtime friend. "He was quick to make friends and once he would, he would work to maintain those relationships."

The two were members of St. Charles High School's percussion band and enjoyed a friendly rivalry.

Three weeks ago, Dr. Boyd, DeWitte and several other 1972 graduates got together and reminisced. DeWitte said his friend seemed ready to deal with his illness.

"He smiled and laughed all the way through it," DeWitte said. "Gary was not a woe-is-me type guy."

After chiropractor school, Dr. Boyd worked as a doctor for 13 years and then established the Elgin business.

His cousin, Dr. Renee McMurry, worked with him since the clinic opened in 1992. She said she saw an incredible mentoring ability in Dr. Boyd.

"He saw potential in people before they saw it themselves," she said.

She said Dr. Boyd molded at least 13 doctors during his time at AcuCare. Dr. Boyd told McMurry that he became a chiropractor because he felt there was a need for it.

"He loved people," she said. "That's why he was such a good doctor. When he was here, he was fully engaged. You felt you were the only person in the room."

McMurry said she owes her career to Dr. Boyd.

"I moved to Illinois to become a chiropractor because of what I saw in him," she said. "I am the doctor I am today because of him."

Survivors include his parents, three brothers and a stepson. He was preceded in death by his grandparents and step-grandmother.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Harvest Bible Church on Randall Road in Elgin. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E. Main St., St. Charles.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the National Chiropractic College, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research or the Prostate Cancer Foundation. For more information, call (630) 584-0060.