Boyd A. Bergeson

Boyd Armond Bergeson, 71, a resident of Nixa, Missouri, passed away in his home on Sunday, January 11, 2009.
A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Chapel, Bettendorf, Iowa, with a visitation from 12:00 P.M. till the time of service. Memorials may be made to the family.
Boyd was born April 2, 1937 in Rock Island, Illinois the son of Boyd Armond & Evelyn V. (Lilliman) Bergeson Sr. Boyd attended Rock Island High School before enlisting in the Navy in 1954. Upon returning from the service in 1959, he joined the Brick Masons Local #7 and the musicians union. He played at the first Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival before moving to Orlando, Florida. In Central Florida he became a staff musician at Walt Disney World and a member of the Rosie O’Grady’s Goodtime Jazz Band at Church Street Station. He traveled all over the world and played numerous international jazz festivals returning to the Bix Fest every other year. After retiring in Missouri, a dream came true as Boyd was asked to be a guest musician with the Springfield Symphony.
He married Marianne Belden Parks on August 20, 1960. He is survived by his wife of 48 years; his son Mitch (Dorothy) Bergeson of Bettendorf, Iowa; his daughters, Michelle Anne Wilford of Ozark Missouri, Molly Kathleen (Randy) Piveral of Ocoee, Florida and Melanie Marie Bergeson of Orlando, Florida; ten grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Boyd Sr. and Evelyn Lilliman Bergeson; infant daughter, Melody; his sister, Katy DeVrieze and special brother-in-law, Howard DeVrieze
Boyd had a heart of gold and was loved by all who knew him.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting Boyd’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com