Nathan Boardman

    Where do you even start to honor and celebrate the life of Nathan Boardman? …one of the  most generous men you would ever hope to meet. You often hear people say “Nathan is one of the best men I’ve ever known….or “they just don’t come any better than Nathan”. He was loved and he was respected in every area of his life.
    He was a giver. He had a fun sense of humor. He had a zest for life. He loved to see kids work hard and succeed. He loved to serve. Many organizations and charities benefitted from his time and his donations, and more times than not, no one knew of his generosity. That was
intentional -- Nathan never sought praise or recognition. He never had selfish intentions with anything he did.
    The words – hard work, success, and Nathan Boardman are synonymous. He worked hard and his success started early in life. At Lamesa High School, he was voted class president his junior and senior years. He immersed himself in FFA and served as president of that organization. He
was encouraged by his ag teacher to go to college and major in agriculture. Nathan attended an FFA convention at Texas A&M and knew this was the path he needed to take…and what a path is was!! Nathan excelled during his time in Aggieland; however, he was faced with a decision his sophomore year when he got news that his father had passed away. He felt the tug
to go home and help on the farm, but was encouraged by many people, especially his mother, to stay in college and make a future. While at A&M, he became an outstanding Cadet. He was
named Company Commander his senior year, was President of the Collegiate FFA, served on the Student Agriculture Council, was a Distinguished Military Graduate and earned a BS degree in Agriculture Education. Nathan never wavered in his support to his alma mater. As an
alumna, he has served as member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (COALS) Council for many years. He and Carolyn had football season tickets and made the 8 hour drive
to every home game for the last few years. He was a very proud Aggie and always paid tribute and gave credit to Texas A&M for his success. He never took for granted what his diploma from Texas A&M afforded him.
    Nathan loved many things. One thing he loved was quotes and colloquialisms from famous people, as well as the ones he made up himself! He would give speeches all over the world and was always a hit with his humor, his wisdom, his authenticity and his West Texas slang. On a smaller stage, he would give those same speeches to his girls as he was raising them to be
strong, empowered women. 
    Nathan loved to scribble. There was never a time that he didn’t have a yellow legal pad and a pencil in his possession. He always said, “I’m just scratchin’ my head” -- but what came out of those scribbles was a successful business plan, meaningful relationships, and ideas that turned into realities. He loved a good golf game, playing gin rummy, traveling, but also drinking coffee with his friends and being at home in the town he loved and supported for more than 60 years.
    Nathan was proud to have made his home in Crosbyton, Texas. He was proud to be the ambassador to this little town as he led the way as the president of Crosbyton Seed Company. He supported every organization, every business, every church, and any individual that needed help. Odds are, everyone in Crosbyton has been touched or influenced positively by Nathan Boardman and he felt blessed in return. Over all the years, he served his community through work on the School Board, Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Search Committee of
First Baptist Church, the Crosbyton Regional Hospital Board and the Pioneer Memorial Museum Board.
    Nathan was the recipient of many honors on the local, state and national level. 
    To mention a few; he was named Crosby County Agriculturist, Crosbyton Man of the Year, Crosby County 4-H
Hall of Honor, Texas Tech College of Agriculture Outstanding Agriculturist Award, Texas Seed Trade Association Lifetime Member and American Seed Trade Association Lifetime Member. He served in many professional positions with the Texas Certified Seed Producers, Texas Seedsmens Association, United States Grains Council, and the National Grain Sorghum Producers Association. 
    Most recently, Nathan was so proud and honored to be one of the Grand Marshalls in the 2023 July 4th Parade in Crosbyton riding in the restored fire truck representing the Volunteer Fire Department -- A group that he admired so much.
    Of all of the accolades and honors bestowed upon him, Nathan was most proud of his wife, Carolyn, and his daughters, Lisa and Jana. His family was his pride and joy. His motivation for
everything he did was to make sure Carolyn and his girls were taken care of. It is abundantly clear that Carolyn was so proud to be his wife and the girls were so proud to be his daughters.
    He was famous for verbally counting his blessings and saying, “Who would’ve ever thought a kid born in Santy(a) Anna, Texas would have all this….I am so blessed and I am so undeserving.”
    Nathan taught his girls many things, but at the top of the list was to never forget where you came from and to always serve…serve your community, serve your fellowman and do something to make a difference in this world. He led by being the greatest example. At one
time Crosbyton Seed Company provided 35-percent of the grain exported from the United States. Talk about making a difference in the world --he was helping to feed the world!! And Nathan did it with the utmost humility. That small town company was a giant led by a great man who did great things. But he will say, “I didn’t do anything, but together WE did a lot”. Always giving credit to others and those that influenced him. 
    Nathan was a strong man of God who had a gift of making his faith so simple. He displayed God’s love every single day. He was definitely light and salt. His faith is summed up in one of the last prayers he prayed… “At the end of the day, may Your grace be extended to us, and if we are so lucky, may our names be written in the Book of Life.” Amen.
    Nathan Royce Boardman was born in Santa Anna, Texas in Coleman County on April 22, 1934 to Mary and Jesse Boardman. He graduated from Lamesa High School in 1952 and continued his education at Texas A&M where he graduated in 1956. 
    After graduation he served as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve and began his career as the Assistant Ag Extension Agent for Lynn County. He met Carolyn Nowlin at the gin café in Lakeview, Texas and they were married in 1958. He then became the Assistant Ag Extension Agent in Lubbock County where he was instrumental in starting the Children’s Barnyard at the South Plains Fair. He then went to work for Estes Chemical which led him to the opportunity to move to Crosbyton to become the
manager of Delta, Inc., a small seed company. He then worked for Growers Seed Association and that led him to start Crosbyton Seed Company where he was a major stockholder and
President. He passed away on his birthday, April 22, 2024, at the age of 90.
    Nathan was preceded in death by his parents and brothers James Boardman, Sanford Boardman and Bob Boardman. He is survived by Carolyn, his wife of almost 66 years; daughter Lisa and husband Tony Davis of Crosbyton; daughter Jana and husband Brent Hoffman of Lubbock; four grandchildren: Cole Davis (Jennifer) of Colorado Springs, CO; Megan Davis Chambless (Jared) of Lubbock; Brittany Hoffman Furgeson (Tyler) of Idalou; and Blake Hoffman (Caroline) of Houston; seven great-grandchildren: Joel, Rebekah and Evelyn Davis; Hannah and
Luke Chambless; and Nathan and Catherine Furgeson. He is also survived by his sister Mary Allred of Roscoe, along with many nieces and nephews.
    The family would like to thank all of the doctors, nurses and staff at Covenant Hospital for their expertise and care. These people are angels on earth.
    Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 7 at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Center from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life service to be held at the First Baptist Church in
Crosbyton on Wednesday, May 8 at 2:00 p.m. The family requests donations be made to the Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum or the Crosbyton Volunteer Fire Department.

– Press-Reporter obituary services