Blue Hair, Bold Spirit: Meet Suzanne Boyd
If you spot a streak of blue buzzing through Longhorn Village’s campus, there’s a good chance it’s Suzanne Boyd — a resident who proves that life is meant to be colorful, fun and full of possibility. With her signature blue-highlighted hair (carefully blended into her natural white) and bright spirit, Suzanne embodies grabbing retirement life by the horns.
Born in Washington, D.C., Suzanne spent her early years just outside the city near Mount Vernon. Her path took her across the country, shaped by service, faith, family and a fearless spirit of reinvention.
Married for 59 years to Harry “Hap” Boyd, a West Point graduate and military officer, Suzanne lived the Army life, building community wherever they were stationed while raising three children. During that time, she worked in social services with Army Community Services and the Red Cross.
After Hap retired from the military, Suzanne returned to school — this time with her daughter to earn a nursing degree. She made sure her daughter was on board before enrolling, and while they shared a few classes, they kept separate study groups. Following graduation, Suzanne worked in neonatal intensive care, pediatrics and case management.
She found the perfect blend of faith and service in parish nursing, spending two decades at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension leading grief groups, teaching teens and supporting members wherever they were.
“That was a wonderful opportunity to marry my faith and vocation,” she said. “Those 20 years were absolutely amazing.”
Finding Home — and Family — at Longhorn Village
With years of experience helping others navigate senior living options and long-term care as a parish nurse, Suzanne had a clear perspective when planning for the future. After raising three children and welcoming six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, Suzanne wanted to move to a continuing care retirement community.
“People would always ask me, ‘What do I do with my mother?’” She said. “I decided I didn’t want my kids to have to ask that question. It’s one of the things that made me decide to move to a Life Plan Community like Longhorn Village.”.
In 2019, she and Hap moved from Savannah, Georgia, to an apartment in Austin near their daughter. One of the things that set Longhorn Village apart was the warm, welcoming atmosphere. “I visited other communities in Austin, but this was the only one where people spoke to me,” she said. “During the tour, I met someone outside the elevator who said, ‘Welcome to our family.’ It is a family here and I think that’s so unique.”
Sadly, Hap passed away just before the move, but Suzanne followed through and arrived at Longhorn Village during the pandemic in June 2020. Despite the tough timing, she quickly found comfort and connection. “There’s always something going on here, and it’s so easy to make friends,” she said.
Living Life in Full Color at Longhorn Village
Today, Suzanne is all in when it comes to life at Longhorn Village. She’s the chair of the health and wellness committee, takes fitness classes like tai chi, and participates in off-campus excursions. She also loves catching up with friends over lunch and the occasional pajama party, where Longhorn ladies cozy up for movie night in the on-campus theater. Suzanne also attends “Inquiring Minds” courses on campus and through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Texas at Austin — keeping her mind as active as her social calendar.
In college, Suzanne minored in music — a passion she continues to enjoy. When she first moved to Longhorn Village, she joined the resident band, playing piano, keyboard and a little guitar. “There’s so much to do here,” she said. “Eventually, other activities pulled me in new directions, and I wanted to try new things, too.”
Shortly after moving in, Suzanne founded the Knit Wits, a needlework group that meets in the lobby where everyone can see them stitching, laughing and creating together. “I wanted people coming in and out to see that there’s life happening here,” she said. The group also knits hats for cancer patients and makes baby blankets for charities.
She’s part of a short-story book club and co-leads a spirituality group that dives deep into thought-provoking books like “Women Remembered: Jesus’ Female Disciples.” The book delves into biblical texts, art, inscriptions and archaeological evidence to reveal the often-overlooked stories of women as disciples, apostles, teachers and founders.
In her spirituality group, Suzanne shares insight on the realities of senior living — including loss, which she reminds others happens everywhere. She also talks about “transition grief,” the emotional shift from managing a home to letting go. While the adjustment can be tough, she says it often leads to more freedom, peace of mind and a richer daily life.
Big Style, Big-Picture Thinking
Looking back, Suzanne knows she made the right choice by moving to Longhorn Village while she could fully enjoy all it has to offer.
Known around campus as “the fun lady with the blue hair,” she embraces her playful side and refuses to take life too seriously. “I’ve always loved changing my hair,” she said. “It’s one of the few things you can switch up in life without causing any problems — and I have a lot of fun with it.” Blue, her signature color, even carries into her apartment décor.
Her style doesn’t stop at hair, either. “I love dressing up — my mother was an incredible dresser — and I’ll admit I’m a bit of a shoe freak,” she laughed.
But beyond her flair and fashion, Suzanne offers thoughtful advice for older adults considering the future: “Don’t wait until you’re sick — move while you’re still able to enjoy everything our community offers. Plus, with memory care and nursing support on-site, your family won’t have to worry — it’s all taken care of.”
She added, “There are a lot of wonderful places out there, but Longhorn Village goes above and beyond. I love living here.”
Interested in finding out more about what Longhorn Village has to offer? Give us a call: 512.503.8288.