Lloyd W. Koyl

Lloyd W. Koyl, age 93, of Lee Township, Olivet, died at Select Specialty Hospital in Battle Creek on Monday, December 4, 2006. Lloyd was born on March 22, 1913 in Dodson, Montana to Orson Milo and Rosa (Roethlisberger) Koyl. In 1918, the family moved to Mt. Pleasant, where Lloyd attended school, graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1930. He then moved to Marshall to work at his uncle Charles Roethlisberger''s market in downtown Marshall. He was a "jack of all trades" while at Roethlisberger''s Market, doing everything necessary in the store, working at the slaughterhouse in Marshall Township near Bear Creek when it was the day for Roethlisberger''s animals to be processed, and even making hot dogs in the alley behind the store. On May 30, 1936, Lloyd was married to Mary C. Clayborn in Marshall. The couple settled in a home on High Street. In 1942, Lloyd went to work at Eaton Manufacturing in Marshall. Lloyd and Mary bought their farm in Lee Township in 1945, and Lloyd started farming full time also. He stopped working at Eaton''s in 1952, and pursued his farm work the rest of his life. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary on Feb. 24, 1976. On December 10, 1977, Lloyd was married to Georga M. (Sanderson) Greenfield. She also preceded him in death on June 11, 1994. Lloyd was married on May 20, 1995 in Marshall to Georgia E. (Olds) Clayborn., who survives him. Lloyd was an active Mason. He joined DeMolay as a young man on Jan. 5, 1933. He petitioned St. Albans Masonic Lodge #20 in 1935, and presided as Master of the lodge in 1941, and 1943. Brother Koyl was an active Mason for almost 72 years, and was a member of many affiliated bodies which include the York Rite and Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Lloyd held almost every office in his lodge at one time or another, and was elected the Mason Of The Year in 1983. In York Rite Masonry he belonged to the Royal Arch Masons and was a Past High Priest; Royal and Select Masons and was a Past Thrice Illustrious Master; Marshall Commandery of Knights Templar and a Past Commander. Also the York Rite College where he was a past Governor and Lloyd was a holder of the Purple Cross, it''s highest award. Other bodies include AMD and a Past Sovereign; HRAKTP and Past Preceptor; the Red Cross of Constantine and Past Puissant Sovereign. Other honors received included Order of Silver Trowel; Knight York Cross of Honor; and Knight Templar Cross of Honor. He was recognized with the Grand Commander''s Service Award, and was a member of the Royal Order of Scotland. In Scottish Rite Masonry, Lloyd was a 32 Degree Mason and for distinguished service to Scottish Rite was awarded the prestigious Meritorious Service Award . Lloyd worked in various Degrees and for many years as a performing member of the 32nd Degree. Brother Koyl was a member of the Builders Club of the Supreme Council and the Sponsor a Child Club in Grand Rapids for treatment of dyslexic children. Lloyd was a Shriner, and a member of Saladin Temple in Grand Rapids. Lloyd took particular delight in driving his miniature car, a Mini-T, in parades all across Michigan. He was faithful in participation of fund raising for the Shrine Hospitals, and was a member of their Million Dollar Club for his efforts. Lloyd was a Mason''s Mason, and he always stood out among his peers with his ready smile, his pleasant attitude, and was always ready to assist anyone he could in anyway possible. He enjoyed spending winters in Florida with his wife Georgia. While there he was a guest at several Masonic Lodges, and was a member of the Masonic Club of St. James City, Florida . Lloyd also served his community as a past member of the Lee Township Board, the Lee Center Cemetery Board, and the former Lee Center School Board. He was a member of the Marshall United Methodist Church, and the Calhoun County Farm Bureau . Surviving are his wife Georgia; sons and daughter-in-laws, James and Inez Koyl, John Koyl, and Jerald and Maureen Koyl all of Olivet; 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; step-sons and daughter-in-laws, William and Gloria Clayborn of Marshall, George and Skip Clayborn of Utah, Michael and Dawn Clayborn of Marshall and Dick and Debbie Clayborn of Pinckney; his brother Raymond Koyl of New Baltimore and sister Shirley (Clifford) Bedford of Lansing; nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by 2 sisters, Mildred Thayer and Alice Hand, and a brother, Dwight Koyl. Friends may call at Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home on Wednesday 9AM-9PM, where family will be present to greet friends and share memories 2PM-4PM and 6PM-8PM. A Masonic Memorial Service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday evening at 7PM. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 2PM at Marshall United Methodist Church, 114711 Old 27 North, Marshall with Rev. Len Schoenherr officiating. Interment will follow, with Masonic honors, at Lee Center Cemetery. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to United Methodist Church or Saladin Shrine Temple for the Crippled Children''s Hospital Fund. Assistance with memorials available at Kempf Funeral Home.