Memorial for James Boyer Jr.

Retired Monarch Fire Protection District employee James Boyer Jr. died Monday. He was a 61-year-old resident of Valley Park.

He was the husband of Lily Boyer (Hatfalvi); father of Lisa Boyer-Faulkner and Gene Boyer from former wife, Deborah Pepple (Yashuk); step-father of Katelin Utt and Kyle Smith; grandpa to Lisa's children (Kenneth, Nicole, Ian, Emoy and Oceana) and Gene's children (Zeth, Noah, Trey and Corynn); great-grandpa to Cash and Brooklyn; son of the late James Boyer and Reba Mead; and brother to Dan, Marsha, Mark, Myra and Matt.

He worked for the Lighting Department of St. Louis, before he began to explore his true passion of being a firefighter/paramedic. He was the first St. Louis firefighter to be certified as a paramedic in the city. His career led to teaching positions in this field at St. Louis University and Logan College. Later he went to work for the Monarch Fire Protection District, serving as a paramedic in the , Chesterfield and Creve Coeur area.

Beyond fire fighting, he loved to cook, paint and write poetry. After an early retirement from the fire district, he decided to pursue a career in culinary arts. After graduating as executive chef, he was given opportunities in several restaurants in the area. He was particularly proud of his involvement in preparing dinner for the Pope John Paul during his last papal visit.

A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Schrader Funeral Homes & Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway in Ballwin. A procession from Schrader will leave at 1:15 p.m. to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery for a 2 p.m. roadside service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Backstoppers, 10411 Clayton Road, Suite A5 (Le Chateau Village), St. Louis, MO 63131.

Friends may sign the online guest book.