Boyd Vernon Runnings Jr.

Boyd Runnings, 68 years old, of Mesa AZ transitioned on September 18th, 2026 at 12:15 AM while in hospice at Friendship Village in Tempe. Boyd was born in Myrtle Beach, SC and was raised in Dallas, TX. It was in Dallas where he met his wife, Jeanette in 1980. They were married in NY in 1985. They did their first cross country trip honeymooning from NY to Austin. They enjoyed traveling, exploring and moving throughout the U.S. and lived together in TX, NY, WA, UT, and ID before settling in AZ in 2008. In 1990, while living in WA, they became parents of Ben.

Boyd had an adventurous spirit. He enjoyed road trips, long bicycle rides, camping, golfing and kayaking. He loved people and could easily make anyone at ease and an instant friend.

In 2004 after the passing of his sister Liz of complications from Huntington’s disease, Boyd rode his bicycle from Omaha to Denver to fundraise and increase awareness of the disease.

Boyd worked most of his life in the printing industry as a machinist. While living in WA he worked as a ski lift operator, but his favorite jobs came at the end of his working years. At a school for children with special needs, he was a teacher’s aide, and he also did respite and habilitation work. They mutually learned from each other. For Boyd, he learned to be patient and to appreciate the simple joys of life.

We would like to thank all the doctors and nurses at Mayo. They saw Boyd at his happy positive self (most of the time), his grumpiest and grouchy self (which showed up at one of his latter hospital visits and his helpless self when his body could no longer fight infections and fight the Multiple Myeloma in his body. Mayo was like a second home, and the staff was forever caring, compassionate and patient. We could not have asked for better care.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Boyd’s name to Mayo Clinic. Memorial gifts can be designated for cancer research. Memorials can be made online or mailed to:

Department of Development

Mayo Clinic

200 First St. SW

Rochester, MN 55905

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday 10/10/26 @

Fountain of the Sun

540 S.80th St.W. - Poolside Room Mesa, AZ 85208-6401

6:30-8:30 PM

This chapter may be over but not forgotten.