William "Bill" James Boies

William "Bill" James Boies, 69, of California, Mo., passed away on Friday, December 14, 2019, at Swedish Medical Center, Denver, Colo. Bill was born on the 4th of July, 1950, in Estherville, Iowa, the son of Dr. William and Claudia Boies, both of whom preceded him in death.He was a graduate of Estherville High School in 1968, received his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology at University of Iowa in 1972, and Master's in Social Work at University of Missouri in 2003.Bill's sociology degree motivated his post-collegiate travel across the USA where he immersed himself within disadvantaged communities. Bill extended his travels through communities in Mexico, Costa Rica and wider Central America. Traveling through the American west, Bill made a fateful stop in Denver, Colo., where a visit with his cousin, Debbie (Cecil) Michels, led to a chance meeting with her roommate. While his travels continued, his months-long correspondence with the young nurse, Avis, in Denver flourished, eventually drawing Bill back in the fall of 1976.Bill and Avis Jean (Meyer) Boies were married on September 16, 1978, living in Colorado and then Washington. In 1981, Bill and his family moved to a small farm outside of California, Mo. where he pursued interests in carpentry, forestry and gardening. The nurturing of his land and black walnut trees was his lifelong pas-sion. Being an avid reader of history and a student of current events, he enjoyed nothing more than a lively conversation with good friends and family. His warmth and humor will be missed at deer camp poker nights. His life was blessed with many trips to Europe where he visited and traveled with his wife and children. For 24 years Bill's professional career was with Missouri State Department of Family Services, where he worked in child protec-tion and later was the County Director of the Moniteau County DFS office. In 2001 Bill transferred to the Governor's Office of Budget and Planning where he worked with the state social service budget. Bill was a board member of Moniteau County Library and the McGirk Community Building. Avis survives on their Missouri acreage, where for the last four decades they nurtured flora, fauna and family. His son, Adam Boies (wife Diana), and one-day-old granddaughter, Emmeline James Boies of Cambridge England; daughter, Genevieve Boies of Co-lumbia, Mo.; and daughter, Caitlin Boies (husband Kevin) with grandson, Leonardo Wolff (22 months), all survive to continue Bill's spark of kindness, humor and love.His death is mourned by surviving siblings, Mickey (Mike) Ludden, Patricia (Pat deceased) Donovan, John (Carol) Boies and Jim (Elizabeth) Boies, as well as family and friends. At a later date, when all family can be in attendance, a Celebra-tion of Life, will be held at the family home.Memorials are suggested to KOPN public supported radio sta-tion, Columbia, Mo.