Boyd Leroy Ayres, Major (retired), US Army, 75, of 2626 Arnold Lane, Waterloo, SC, died Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at his home.

Born in Daviess, MO, he was a son of the late Boyd George and Veloy Fern Hansen Ayres. Boyd was an Army paratrooper with 43 jumps and then a Special Forces soldier, a Green Beret, who served in Okinawa, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He later joined the Army Reserve and served on active duty during Desert Storm, retiring as a Major in the Calvary.

Boyd graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor's degree in American History. Upon graduation, he taught at Williams Junior High School in Davenport, IA, where he was recognized as the Iowa Reservist Teacher of the Year in 1979. He was a member of a Civil War reenactment unit, the 13th Tennessee Artillery Battery. He later lived in Chicago, San Antonio and San Francisco before moving to South Carolina, where he was self-employed until his retirement.

Boyd thrived in his Ayres ancestry. He was very proud of his family and loved telling people about his children, great stories, Irish folk music, history, teaching, genealogy, the Hawkeyes and just being an American Soldier and American Citizen.

He was twice married and was preceded in death by his parents; the grandparents who raised him, William (Will) Christensen and Elizabeth (Goodchild) Hansen; a granddaughter, Jennifer Christine Ayres and a brother, Edward Ayres.

Surviving are his children, Scott Ayres (Debra) of Iowa, Jennifer Sheppard (Dennis) of Silverstreet, SC, Neal Ayres of Irmo, SC, Gina Conrad (Gordon) of Iowa and Zachary Ayres of Simpsonville, SC; a sister, Pam Berst (Andy) of Colorado; brothers, Dean Ayres (Annette) of Kansas, James Ayres of Iowa, Joel Ayres (Michelle) of California and Jerry Ayres (Pam) of Iowa; 17 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Services, with military rites, will be at 12 noon on Thursday at the Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Wako Cotney officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.

The family members are at their respective homes.

Memorials may be made to the 173rd Airborne SC Chapter 30, c/o Rev. Wako Cotney, PO Box 616, Prosperity, SC 29127.

Messages and photos may be shared on Boyd's tribute page at www.harleyfuneralhome.com .