Wallace T. Boyack

Wallace Tippetts (Wally) Boyack, 80, passed away on January 13th, 2022, from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. His wife of 55 years, Gaylynne Erickson Boyack, was at his side when he passed.

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Wally was born November 29th, 1941 in Fort Collins, CO, the fourth child of Ray Miller Boyack and Kate Tippetts Boyack. Wally was raised in the Millcreek area, attending William Penn Elementary, Evergreen Junior High, and his beloved Granite High School where he played football and was involved with student government. Wally had many fond and funny remembrances of his childhood, school days, mission, work, and family life.

As a child, Wally was high-spirited and rambunctious. Wally once infamously ran away with the milkman, which led to him being tethered to a tree as a toddler. Another favorite memory was when Wally built a snowman around a fire hydrant after watching older kids ram their cars into the neighborhood snowmen. In high school, Wally engaged in other shenanigans with friends, one of which led to half of the Granite Choir being shaved bald. As Wally fondly recalled, "We screwed up the first haircut, so we agreed that all of us would shave all our hair off. My mother didn't let me eat at the kitchen table for a while."

Wally served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Berlin, Germany. On his mission, Wally saw the Berlin Wall go up and attended President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. The politics of the era caused locals to think of the missionaries as "G-men,” an impression that Wally and other missionaries capitalized on by passing notes to each other on public transport and quickly swallowing the piece of paper after the note was read. After Wally's mission, he studied French at the French Alliance Paris Ile-De-France.

Wally attended the University of Utah, graduating with a MBA after earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He was active on campus as editor of The Chronicle and president of his beloved Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, as well as in student government and various other student organizations. He was voted "Greek of the Year" by the IFC and was inducted into Owl and Key, Skull & Bones, and the Beehive Honor Society, of which he later served as president.

While at the University of Utah, he met Gaylynne Erickson. Wally and Gaylynne married just before Wally started Georgetown Law School in Washington, DC. During law school, Wally worked in the Senate Building as an elevator operator and managed to also earn a Masters in Economics from Georgetown - a degree that Wally claims he earned on his lunch hour.

Wally worked as an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, DC after graduation and in 1973 transferred with the SEC to Salt Lake City. Wally was appointed to be an Assistant US Attorney and served as the president of the Federal Bar (Utah chapter). Thereafter, Wally went into private practice and spent more than thirty-five years serving his clients with dedication and intellect, securing them the best possible outcome in their cases. Wally was generous with his time and talents and often worked pro bono and, once, in exchange for a milkshake machine. Together with Gaylynne, Wally was a small business owner as well as an attorney. Wally and Gaylynne founded and operated the Red Balloon Toy Store from 1974-1994.

Church was a place where Wally found peace, so much so that he occasionally fell asleep, even on the hardwood benches. One notable Sunday, Wally was awakened during Sunday School class to the sound of his name being called. Not knowing why he had been called on, Wally made a snap decision: He stood up, walked to the front of the room, said the closing prayer, and then walked out. Wally never knew for sure whether he had been I'm holding the popcorn. actually asked to say the closing prayer.

Wally yearned for knowledge; he was an avid reader and loved history.

Wally loved traveling the world with his family, exploring new places, and making unforgettable and fun memories together. The family still laughs at the recollection of Wally’s repeated suggestion that they stop “to buy a quarter-pound of dry salami” - suggestions that fell on deaf ears in a dozen different European cities. Family was a priority in his life, and Wally always enjoyed gathering together with his family, telling and listening to funny anecdotes of their adventures together.

Wally is survived by his wife, Gaylynne, five children, and twenty grandchildren. Children include Eric Boyack (Andrea) and their children, Bowen (Currently serving a mission in Gilbert Arizona), Benjamin, Nathan, & Dorothy, of Lawrence, KS; Morgan Boyack (Ashley) and their children, Brooks, Brigham, James (Currently serving in a mission in Capetown South Africa), & Matthew, of Millcreek, UT; Ryan Boyack (Darcie) and their children Caroline, Madelyn, Blake, & Anthony (“Cubby”), of Sandy, UT; Weston Boyack (Amy) and their children, William, Beckham, Isaac, & Jack, of Millcreek, UT; and Ashley Boyack Kelly (Dave) and their children, Anna, Zack, Grant, and Claire, of Gilbert, AZ. Wally is also survived by his sister, Anne Prestwich (Larry); his brother David Boyack (Kathleen); and his brother, George Boyack (Elaine). Wally was preceded in death by his oldest brother James Boyack (Gerlinde) and sister Betsey Jane.

The Boyack Family would like to thank the staff at the Spring Gardens Holladay Senior Living center and Bristol Hospice for the love and care Wally received. These staff members are truly heroes.

A viewing will be held at the Mount Olympus Ward -4635 South Lanark Road on January 22nd at 9:30 am with the funeral to start at 11:00 am.

Interment- January 22nd at 1:30PM, Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 Highland Dr, SLC, UT 84106

For more information please visit: www.emc2nd.com/wally

Wally will be deeply missed, but his fun-loving personality, exuberant spirit, and generous nature live on in the love and memories of his family.

“I’M HOLDING THE POPCORN”

“Let me think about that”