Judy Rae Boyatt Dawson

DAWSON, Judy Rae Boyatt, 87, born in Pocatello, Idaho, October 22, 1938, died peacefully on December 29, 2025 at Bear Lake Memorial Hospital in Montpelier, Idaho. She was preceded in death by her mother, Grace S. Bagwell, her father, William R. Boyatt, two premature twin brothers, Richard Ammon Boyatt and Robert Edwin Boyatt. She was also proceeded in death by her long-time friend Evonne Adkins. She is survived by her sister, Diana Jane (James) Payne and her daughter, Dee (Rex) Johnson and her longtime friend and housemate, Elaine Tobias.

Now that the formalities are out of the way, let’s get to the best part of the story. Judy lived an incredible life. She was a very protective person. When her little sister was born (10 years her junior), Judy felt it was her duty to protect and raise her sister. And she did. You did not want to tangle with Judy if she was protecting those she loved. And if you were loved by Judy you felt an envelope of love, inclusivity and safety.

She was a gifted and accomplished musician. She started piano lessons as young child, and in junior high and high school she took up playing the French horn. She claims at that time she was nothing special. When Judy was near the end of her Senior year in high school she had the opportunity of a lifetime; her Aunt Veda and Uncle Harry lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and offered to pay for her college expenses if she would take care of their young toddler daughter. Judy was admitted to the University of Michigan School of Music. She’s a true blue, dyed in the wool, Wolverine. GO BLUE! Judy describes her experience at U of Mich. as nothing short of incredibly stressful and full of learning and opportunity. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in performing arts with an emphasis on the organ. One of her first jobs was in Michigan playing for a Catholic congregation. As she was playing Mass (beautiful music but booooorrrring to play) she chose to use little artistic licensure and added a real smooth boogie line on the pedals. The priest did perk up a bit, but in the end, she was no longer playing organ for that congregation.

She returned to Pocatello where she “accidentally” found herself being employed playing the piano and singing. She was an excellent pianist, and could play all genres, and with her training at U of Mich. she did not lack applied theory or abilities to improvise. She created her own arrangements of music and loved getting the patrons involved in singing with her. It didn’t hurt that she was a slender 5’9” blonde who could lure anyone with her piano playing and deep singing voice. One occasion, as some of the last patrons were leaving she started playing Louis Armstrong and imitating his gravelly voice. People came running thinking Louis Armstrong was singing “Bill Bailey”. Then they stayed because they were amazed at this tall blond lady sitting at the piano dressed to the hilt doing Louis, performing incredible arrangements of Porgy and Bess and not to mention that deep sexy voice. She packed the place. During this time, she met and married Bill Dawson, who she did not sing “Bill Bailey” to when they divorced shortly after the birth of their daughter Shannon Dee Dawson. Dee was the brown-eyed little girl Judy always wanted, at least that’s what she told Dee. Dee did challenge that statement on a daily basis during the growing up years… which still haven’t ended. Judy would sing with Dee in the car all the time and had Dee singing before she could talk and in no time they were singing harmony. This singing routine continued for life. It’s amazing how music forms the mind and experiences.

Judys entertaining eventually took her to San Francisco. Entertaining can be a very profitable business, and it was for Judy, but it is also demanding. Judy’s agent informed her that he had labels who were wanting to discuss signing her. She opted out and decided she wanted to teach school. Her first teaching contract in 1967 was $3400.00/year. A few hundred more than she made in one month of entertaining.

For those of you who were taught by Mrs. Dawson, you know what an incredible music teacher she was. She made an impact at every school district she taught, Firth School District, Rockland School District and the American Falls School District. Part of what made her such a good teacher was her flare for life and fun. She had an entertainment background, and if you’re going to be successful in entertaining you better know how to make it fun for your audience. She took that attitude with her teaching methods, and it reflected in the positive responses she got from her students. She believed that when you played an instrument it was exactly that, playing, having fun with it. She had a knack for identifying and including the students who were different, who were underdogs, and she helped them find fun and success in music. They felt accepted. She never held a tryout for her groups. She has students who went on to sing in the Tabernacle Choir, some pursued professional careers in music, others became music teachers, one sent her an invitation to his graduation from Julliard. She was a highly sought after music teacher, several of the larger school districts had standing offers for her to teach at their schools. In the end, she liked building quality music programs in small school districts where she could have the most impact on the lives of her students. During her first semester teaching at Rockland, she had ten high school students signed up for band. The second semester all but two students signed up for band.

Judy also loved the outdoors. In 1987 she planned a summer long trip with Elaine, Evonne, and Dee and they canoed 460 miles of the Yukon River in The Yukon Territories, Canada. She downhill skied, she raised sheep, she was an accomplished woodworker with a complete shop. She was Pool Shark with pool cue to prove it. She really could do it all.

In the end, she just wore out, her body riddled with multiple diseases, became a shell that her talented spirit could no longer use to do the things she loved. It is with happiness and grief, that bipolar tug of war, that we say good bye and see you on the other side where we all hope a Steinway and Hammond B3 organ are reserved for you. I love you the most mom.

A big shout out to Elaine Tobias for her years of friendship and taking such good care of Judy in her later years, to the doctors and staff at Portneuf Medical Center Cardiology and Pulmonology. To Dr. Pymm and the wonderful staff at Bear Lake Family Care, to Bear Lake Memorial Hospital and the staff in the lab, radiology, ER and nurses and cooks that doted over her and took such good care of Judy while she was under their care. SHE LOVED THE COFFEE and food! Big thanks to the volunteer EMT’s who so capably responded on more than one occasion while Judy was being cared for during her last months at Dee’s home. We love you all.

A celebration of a great life lived and loved will be announced at a later date to be held in Pocatello. In lieu of flowers, you can donate to the Bear Lake Arts Council, The Paris Food Pantry, Bear Lake Memorial Hospital or Animals Need Help, a locally operated animal shelter in Bear Lake County.