Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Boydston.
Hi Mary, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started working at my high school after school when I was 16 years old. I worked a lot of different jobs as my husband was in the military and lived in Washington DC for a year. When we moved back to Missouri I started working for restaurants and continued there until I retired, but I started a business while working a full time job. So working full time, being a mother, and owning a business. My parents always taught me good work ethics which I passed on to my daughters and grandchildren. I have since then retired.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road as my family needed my help with medical problems. I helped to take care of both my in-laws until they passed away. Sadly I lost my dad in 2000. It was really hard for me to lose him. He was my best friend. Then my mom got sick and took care of her until her passing in 2013 and eleven months later lost my husband of 44 years. I then remarried in 2018 and lost him in 2024. I thought everything was going smooth until April of 2025 and was diagnosed with cancer. But I knew God had everything under control. At first I was devasted but with my faith in God and all my family and friends, my church family I knew I was going to be alright. My daughter had a job that allowed her to take my for all my treatments. My grandson took me to my last one and got to see me ring the bell. I am now cancer free and I give all the glory to God.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am now retired but working in restaurants taught me lot. I have always liked talking to people so that gave me the chance to do what I liked. I always took pride in my work and it always let my boss know that I cared about the work. I worked my way up to manager in two of the jobs I had. Being a boss is not an easy job. I knew my employers valued my work as the always telling me what a great job I was doing and when I left they had told me anytime I wanted to come back to work just let them know and I would have a job. One thing I would not ask my employees to do anything that I would not do.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Going to church and spending time with the Lord and family and friends. Taking little short trips and seeing different parts of the state and seeing other states. I never traveled while I was working and always said when I retired that was my plan. I have visited Disney World twice with my daughter, so-in-law and two grandsons. Been to Texas and Tennessee to visit friends. Am just enjoying life
