It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce on Thursday, January 25th, 2024, Ernest Dean "Diz" Boyles passed peacefully from this earthly life and went home to be with our heavenly Father at the age of 89.
Diz was born the youngest of two children to George Edward and Ida Belle (Madden) Boyles on February 9th, 1934, in Elmer, Oklahoma. Anyone who knew Diz knew he was both an accomplished and decorated baseball player and an avid fan. He attended Southside Highschool in Elmer, graduating in 1952, and played baseball all four years. Diz primarily played catcher but would often play any position except first base. In 1952, Southside won the Class C district, regional, and state championships; while playing American Legion ball for the Altus Harvesters, they won the state tournament in 1951. After graduating from Southside, Diz enrolled in Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) and continued his love for the game, graduating in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in history. In 2008, Diz was inducted into the Jackson County Hall of Fame for his career in baseball.
During those four years at SWOSU, Diz famously caught for many future pro-players, most notably Lindy McDaniel. In the summer of 1954, Diz played semi-pro baseball for the town of Bentonville, Arkansas, at the request of his friend, Lindy McDaniel, who knew Diz was the best catcher around. In the summers of 1955 and 1956, Diz played for the Hooker Cardinals and played in the Tri-State Tournaments.
It was while playing summer league baseball for the Hooker Cardinals in 1955 that he met a raven-haired beauty named Ruthe Rapp, who later became his wife. As fate would have it, his passion for baseball is what led him to meet the greatest love of his life, and he and Ruthe were married on June 3rd, 1957, at the First United Methodist Church in Hooker, one week after he graduated from SWOSU. They welcomed their first born and only daughter, Tanya, in 1958, followed by son Jeffrey in 1961, and youngest, Scott, in 1965. In 1968, they moved out to their farmhouse northwest of town where they still reside, today. Diz became an avid farmer and rancher in addition to working for the gas plant in town, where he worked for 33 years before retirement. Diz was also a member of the Hooker School Board from 1976-1991, and a huge supporter of the Bulldogs, their multiple sports programs, and the Hooker Bulldog Network. Diz had one of the gentlest souls the world will ever know, and the kindness and generosity in his heart was obvious to anyone that had the good fortune to meet him. His family had the privilege to see the ornery side of his personality that was as contagious as his laughter, He loved our Lord and Savior, crunchy peanut butter, chocolate pie, Friday night green pepper and sausage pizza with Ruthe, and watching any sporting event in which his Sooners would compete. A testament to our character in this life is the fervency with which we are loved by those who know us best, and I can say with the utmost certainty that Diz will forever be loved by us beyond compare. He was the best husband, dad, papa, and great-papa, and we will continue loving him
until we meet again in Heaven.
Diz is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Joe, and great granddaughter Nikole Edwards. He is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Ruthe Boyles, of Hooker, his daughter Tanya Chambers and partner Joe of Guymon, son Jeff Boyles of Hooker, and son Scott and wife Janie Boyles of Norman. He is also survived by his grandchildren Heidi (Jason) McCann of Guymon, Stephanie (Cameron) Parlier of Guymon, Shyla (Jeff) Stanley of Yukon, Katarina Boyles of Norman, and Sean Boyles of Norman, as well as his great grandchildren, Makenna and Allie VanDyke, Imogen and Colten Edwards, Draven, Lyla, and Archer Stanley, and Jaden McCann.
Diz was born the youngest of two children to George Edward and Ida Belle (Madden) Boyles on February 9th, 1934, in Elmer, Oklahoma. Anyone who knew Diz knew he was both an accomplished and decorated baseball player and an avid fan. He attended Southside Highschool in Elmer, graduating in 1952, and played baseball all four years. Diz primarily played catcher but would often play any position except first base. In 1952, Southside won the Class C district, regional, and state championships; while playing American Legion ball for the Altus Harvesters, they won the state tournament in 1951. After graduating from Southside, Diz enrolled in Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) and continued his love for the game, graduating in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in history. In 2008, Diz was inducted into the Jackson County Hall of Fame for his career in baseball.
During those four years at SWOSU, Diz famously caught for many future pro-players, most notably Lindy McDaniel. In the summer of 1954, Diz played semi-pro baseball for the town of Bentonville, Arkansas, at the request of his friend, Lindy McDaniel, who knew Diz was the best catcher around. In the summers of 1955 and 1956, Diz played for the Hooker Cardinals and played in the Tri-State Tournaments.
It was while playing summer league baseball for the Hooker Cardinals in 1955 that he met a raven-haired beauty named Ruthe Rapp, who later became his wife. As fate would have it, his passion for baseball is what led him to meet the greatest love of his life, and he and Ruthe were married on June 3rd, 1957, at the First United Methodist Church in Hooker, one week after he graduated from SWOSU. They welcomed their first born and only daughter, Tanya, in 1958, followed by son Jeffrey in 1961, and youngest, Scott, in 1965. In 1968, they moved out to their farmhouse northwest of town where they still reside, today. Diz became an avid farmer and rancher in addition to working for the gas plant in town, where he worked for 33 years before retirement. Diz was also a member of the Hooker School Board from 1976-1991, and a huge supporter of the Bulldogs, their multiple sports programs, and the Hooker Bulldog Network. Diz had one of the gentlest souls the world will ever know, and the kindness and generosity in his heart was obvious to anyone that had the good fortune to meet him. His family had the privilege to see the ornery side of his personality that was as contagious as his laughter, He loved our Lord and Savior, crunchy peanut butter, chocolate pie, Friday night green pepper and sausage pizza with Ruthe, and watching any sporting event in which his Sooners would compete. A testament to our character in this life is the fervency with which we are loved by those who know us best, and I can say with the utmost certainty that Diz will forever be loved by us beyond compare. He was the best husband, dad, papa, and great-papa, and we will continue loving him
until we meet again in Heaven.
Diz is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Joe, and great granddaughter Nikole Edwards. He is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Ruthe Boyles, of Hooker, his daughter Tanya Chambers and partner Joe of Guymon, son Jeff Boyles of Hooker, and son Scott and wife Janie Boyles of Norman. He is also survived by his grandchildren Heidi (Jason) McCann of Guymon, Stephanie (Cameron) Parlier of Guymon, Shyla (Jeff) Stanley of Yukon, Katarina Boyles of Norman, and Sean Boyles of Norman, as well as his great grandchildren, Makenna and Allie VanDyke, Imogen and Colten Edwards, Draven, Lyla, and Archer Stanley, and Jaden McCann.
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce on Thursday, January 25th, 2024, Ernest Dean "Diz" Boyles passed peacefully from this earthly life and went home to be with our heavenly Father at the age of 89.
Diz was born the youngest of two children to George Edward and Ida Belle (Madden) Boyles on February 9th, 1934, in Elmer, Oklahoma. Anyone who knew Diz knew he was both an accomplished and decorated baseball player and an avid fan. He attended Southside Highschool in Elmer, graduating in 1952, and played baseball all four years. Diz primarily played catcher but would often play any position except first base. In 1952, Southside won the Class C district, regional, and state championships; while playing American Legion ball for the Altus Harvesters, they won the state tournament in 1951. After graduating from Southside, Diz enrolled in Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) and continued his love for the game, graduating in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in history. In 2008, Diz was inducted into the Jackson County Hall of Fame for his career in baseball.
During those four years at SWOSU, Diz famously caught for many future pro-players, most notably Lindy McDaniel. In the summer of 1954, Diz played semi-pro baseball for the town of Bentonville, Arkansas, at the request of his friend, Lindy McDaniel, who knew Diz was the best catcher around. In the summers of 1955 and 1956, Diz played for the Hooker Cardinals and played in the Tri-State Tournaments.
It was while playing summer league baseball for the Hooker Cardinals in 1955 that he met a raven-haired beauty named Ruthe Rapp, who later became his wife. As fate would have it, his passion for baseball is what led him to meet the greatest love of his life, and he and Ruthe were married on June 3rd, 1957, at the First United Methodist Church in Hooker, one week after he graduated from SWOSU. They welcomed their first born and only daughter, Tanya, in 1958, followed by son Jeffrey in 1961, and youngest, Scott, in 1965. In 1968, they moved out to their farmhouse northwest of town where they still reside, today. Diz became an avid farmer and rancher in addition to working for the gas plant in town, where he worked for 33 years before retirement. Diz was also a member of the Hooker School Board from 1976-1991, and a huge supporter of the Bulldogs, their multiple sports programs, and the Hooker Bulldog Network. Diz had one of the gentlest souls the world will ever know, and the kindness and generosity in his heart was obvious to anyone that had the good fortune to meet him. His family had the privilege to see the ornery side of his personality that was as contagious as his laughter, He loved our Lord and Savior, crunchy peanut butter, chocolate pie, Friday night green pepper and sausage pizza with Ruthe, and watching any sporting event in which his Sooners would compete. A testament to our character in this life is the fervency with which we are loved by those who know us best, and I can say with the utmost certainty that Diz will forever be loved by us beyond compare. He was the best husband, dad, papa, and great-papa, and we will continue loving him
until we meet again in Heaven.
Diz is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Joe, and great granddaughter Nikole Edwards. He is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Ruthe Boyles, of Hooker, his daughter Tanya Chambers and partner Joe of Guymon, son Jeff Boyles of Hooker, and son Scott and wife Janie Boyles of Norman. He is also survived by his grandchildren Heidi (Jason) McCann of Guymon, Stephanie (Cameron) Parlier of Guymon, Shyla (Jeff) Stanley of Yukon, Katarina Boyles of Norman, and Sean Boyles of Norman, as well as his great grandchildren, Makenna and Allie VanDyke, Imogen and Colten Edwards, Draven, Lyla, and Archer Stanley, and Jaden McCann.
Diz was born the youngest of two children to George Edward and Ida Belle (Madden) Boyles on February 9th, 1934, in Elmer, Oklahoma. Anyone who knew Diz knew he was both an accomplished and decorated baseball player and an avid fan. He attended Southside Highschool in Elmer, graduating in 1952, and played baseball all four years. Diz primarily played catcher but would often play any position except first base. In 1952, Southside won the Class C district, regional, and state championships; while playing American Legion ball for the Altus Harvesters, they won the state tournament in 1951. After graduating from Southside, Diz enrolled in Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) and continued his love for the game, graduating in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in history. In 2008, Diz was inducted into the Jackson County Hall of Fame for his career in baseball.
During those four years at SWOSU, Diz famously caught for many future pro-players, most notably Lindy McDaniel. In the summer of 1954, Diz played semi-pro baseball for the town of Bentonville, Arkansas, at the request of his friend, Lindy McDaniel, who knew Diz was the best catcher around. In the summers of 1955 and 1956, Diz played for the Hooker Cardinals and played in the Tri-State Tournaments.
It was while playing summer league baseball for the Hooker Cardinals in 1955 that he met a raven-haired beauty named Ruthe Rapp, who later became his wife. As fate would have it, his passion for baseball is what led him to meet the greatest love of his life, and he and Ruthe were married on June 3rd, 1957, at the First United Methodist Church in Hooker, one week after he graduated from SWOSU. They welcomed their first born and only daughter, Tanya, in 1958, followed by son Jeffrey in 1961, and youngest, Scott, in 1965. In 1968, they moved out to their farmhouse northwest of town where they still reside, today. Diz became an avid farmer and rancher in addition to working for the gas plant in town, where he worked for 33 years before retirement. Diz was also a member of the Hooker School Board from 1976-1991, and a huge supporter of the Bulldogs, their multiple sports programs, and the Hooker Bulldog Network. Diz had one of the gentlest souls the world will ever know, and the kindness and generosity in his heart was obvious to anyone that had the good fortune to meet him. His family had the privilege to see the ornery side of his personality that was as contagious as his laughter, He loved our Lord and Savior, crunchy peanut butter, chocolate pie, Friday night green pepper and sausage pizza with Ruthe, and watching any sporting event in which his Sooners would compete. A testament to our character in this life is the fervency with which we are loved by those who know us best, and I can say with the utmost certainty that Diz will forever be loved by us beyond compare. He was the best husband, dad, papa, and great-papa, and we will continue loving him
until we meet again in Heaven.
Diz is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Joe, and great granddaughter Nikole Edwards. He is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Ruthe Boyles, of Hooker, his daughter Tanya Chambers and partner Joe of Guymon, son Jeff Boyles of Hooker, and son Scott and wife Janie Boyles of Norman. He is also survived by his grandchildren Heidi (Jason) McCann of Guymon, Stephanie (Cameron) Parlier of Guymon, Shyla (Jeff) Stanley of Yukon, Katarina Boyles of Norman, and Sean Boyles of Norman, as well as his great grandchildren, Makenna and Allie VanDyke, Imogen and Colten Edwards, Draven, Lyla, and Archer Stanley, and Jaden McCann.
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