Margaret Starbuck Boykin

Marg Starbuck (Margaret Starbuck Boykin) died peacefully on Saturday morning, December 2, 2017, in Westminster, Colorado, after a lengthy illness. Born January 30, 1929, in Berkeley, California, to Elwood Townsend and Helen Easton Starbuck, Marg attended Berkeley schools and Denison University in Granville, Ohio. She met her future husband William Ball Boykin (Bill) while they were at Berkeley High School, reconnecting during college, and marrying on July 31, 1949. Marg is preceded in death by her parents, and sister Frances Foster. She is survived by her devoted husband of 68 years, Bill; their four children Dave and Joan Boykin, Nancy Boykin, Kirk and Susan Boykin, and Jane and Barry Brennan; her sister, Sue Starbuck and George Stockton; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Marg lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, South Norwalk, Connecticut, Houston, Texas, Saudi Arabia, Long Beach,Topanga, and Sebastopol, California, and Westminster, Colorado. She enjoyed her many travels with Bill, their family, and friends. She was very active in every community in which she lived. She designed Girlkin Dresses and Boykin Belts in New York City, was active with the Jung Center in Houston, the Houston Organic Food Coop, the Topanga soup kitchen, the Bay Area Veterans’ Writing Group, and Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She made close friendships along the way and was known for her intelligent conversation, her fierce sense of justice and the value of each person, and her deep love, energy, and caring. During her illness, Marg especially enjoyed old movies, children, singing, and being with Bill. Marg had a gifted view of design and aesthetics, creating art of various kinds individually and with their four children. In the early 1970’s, she began managing Swan Gallery of fine Texas crafts, in Webster, Texas. From there she attended the acclaimed Glassell School of Art in Houston, and Cal State Long Beach, where her own painting received recognition. She was encouraged to develop her talents, and was invited to exhibit throughout greater Los Angeles and San Francisco. Her large, abstract paintings are vibrant and filled with emotion and symbolism, and were hung in restaurants and business offices in California. www.margstarbuck.com A memorial gathering is being planned for late January in Colorado. Donations may be made in the memory of Marg Starbuck, to Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Development Department, P.O. Box 169, Woodacre, CA 94973, or online at www.spiritrock.org/donate. The family is grateful to our wonderful caregivers, medical teams, Care.com, TRU Community Care, and all who have touched our lives, who have been a part of Marg’s journey, and who have loved and supported Marg and Bill during her illness. Peace and blessings.