Laverne Lester "Les" Boyd, 77, of Pullman, WA passed away Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Pullman Regional Hospital.

Les was born June 14, 1941 in Pullman to Laverne & Virginia (Bryson) Boyd.  He grew up on the family farm and attended Pullman schools.  After graduating from Pullman High School in 1959 he attended WSU.

Les married Nicka Laisner and together they had two children, Chris & Dasi.  The family made their home in Pullman. Les and Nicka later divorced.

Les married Patricia Rice on September 10, 1994.  They lived on the family farm before moving to Pomeroy, WA in 2008.  They returned to Pullman in 2016.

Les was an Instructional Technician and later an Adjunct Associate in research at the Zoology Department at Washington State University, retiring in 1992 after thirty one years of service.  His work at WSU included consulting work as a raptor biologist with various institutions including the Cornell University Peregrine Fund, the Canadian Fish & Wildlife Service, the Washington State Game Department, and the Seattle Zoo.  Highlights of his career included being invited to present research papers at the London Zoological Society, and opportunities to study and breed raptors in Bahrain and Iran.  He always felt he had the perfect job as it combined his love of raptors, his interest in inventing, and his love of travel.

After retiring from WSU Les began a quail breeding project with his son, Chris.  Chris, and later Les's grandson, Tom Boyd, managed Boyd's Bird Company until 2018.  Les's interest in falconry began in 1954 and lasted his entire life.  He bred raptors in captivity at his facility on Airport Road in Pullman from 1972 until 2004.  When Les and Pat weren't working together in the falcon breeding project they traveled, fished and spent time outdoors.

Les was a past officer and an honored member of the North American Falconers Association (NAFA) and the Washington Falconers Association (WFA).  He was interested in native plants, especially on the Palouse and was a member of the Palouse Prairie Organization.

Les is survived by his wife Patricia of Pullman; son Chris Boyd of Palouse, WA; daughter Dasi Daniels of California; stepson Aaron (Erin) Rice of Pullman; stepdaughter Catherine Williams of Twin Falls, ID; brother Kenneth Boyd (Nancy) of Prescott, AZ; nephew Travis Boyd (Adelia) of Pasco, WA; nephew Chaar Boyd of

Flagstaff, AZ; niece Ellie Boyd of Spokane, WA; grandson Tom Boyd of Pullman; grandson Shiloe Swisher of CA; granddaughter Kristine Hensley (Tyler) of Pullman and step grandchildren Devin, Lexi and Cayli Williams of Twin Falls, ID.  He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Cheryl Ficca and brother Gary Boyd.

Les was loved for his kindness and humility, and known for his love of nature and the environment, inventive mind and lateral thinking.  No words can express our deep felt sense of love and loss.

There will be a memorial service for Les at 10:30 am on Friday, January 18, 2019 at Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman, WA.  In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made in Les's name to The Archives of Falconry, 5668 W. Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709.  Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com