Mother, Sister, Grandma and Great Grandma

Celestia “Kitty” Dorcas Bovaird, 87, of Girard, Pa passed away at her residence after a brief illness on Thursday, May 4, 2017.

She was born on August 11, 1929 in Arbuckle, PA, a daughter of the late Hiram and Grace (Stinedurf) Kimmy. She studied in a one-room school house and Academy High School. Although she loved learning, she had to leave school in the eleventh grade to help support her family.

Kitty lived in Waterford, Wattsburg and Erie, but she resided in Girard, PA for the majority of her life. She held various jobs—at Marx Toys, General Electric, tying and picking grapes at the Boyce Fruit Farm—but her life’s work was keeping the books for her husband’s tree service. She also belonged to the TOPS Club, Girard Dobler Hose Ladies’ Auxiliary and Elk Valley’s PTA. Kitty attended the Erie Church of Christ for seventy years.

A loyal friend and neighbor, Kitty cultivated lifetime relationships. She loved taking walks in her neighborhood and going to the Fireman’s Picnic and Dan Rice Days.  Along with caring for and spending time with members of her family, she cherished her home and family traditions.

Kitty will be greatly missed by her family, a son, Michael T. Bovaird, a daughter, Amy L. Bovaird and a son, Donald J. Bovaird (Julie), all of Girard. She is survived by eleven grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren. She is further survived by a sister, Mary Johnson (Howard) and a brother Ivan Kimmy, both of Warren, a brother, James Kimmy, Cranesville, and a half-sister, Madeline Sarber, WV, many nephews, nieces and great nieces and nephews.  

Kitty was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Donald T. Bovaird whom she married on February 25, 1955, a daughter, Carolyn A. Wehr (David), of Girard, a brother, Henry Stinedurf (Delsina), of Erie and Walter Kimmy (Evelyn), Conneaut, OH, Jean Teribery, Girard, and a half-sister, Gertrude Gray, Cambridge Springs.

Friends may call on Monday, May 8, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Edder Funeral Home Inc., 301 Main St. East, ome Home Girard and are invited to attend services there on Tuesday at 10 am, with Gale Thornton officiating. There will be a luncheon following at Erie Church of Christ, 2317 West Grandview Blvd., Erie, PA, after.

Burial will be in Girard Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice at 719 Indiana Drive 
Erie, PA 16505-4409. 

To send condolences, visit edderfuneralhome.com 

 Service Information