14 March 2025

Photo of Jim East and Dovey Jim East, a longtime member and servant leader in Metropolitan Community Churches, is in need of assistance. His best friend and partner, Tim Boyce, has entered hospice and end-of-life care after a diagnosis with stage 4 kidney cancer. Jim and Tim are currently displaced from their home in Florida because of damage from Hurricane Milton.

Jim is well-known for his advocacy within MCC for accessibility. He is best remembered for his General Conference leadership, ensuring access while his own service dog, Dovey, guided him through the conference events.

Tim, now 69 years old, grew up in a children's home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His parents were unable to care for he and his siblings, so the United Methodist-connected children's home provided. He shared this story...

"When I grew up in the children's home, I spent a lot of time playing in the creek. I even picked wild blackberries for a home made pie so we all could eat at Stockton cottage. Most people probably don't know that behind the little white church in middle of a cow pasture is probably 10 to 15 graves which date back to the civil war. One grave belongs to a home girl who fell asleep in the snow and froze to death and was buried there. She was the last to be buried there."

Tim trained briefly under the instruction of Lucien Laurin, the trainer for Secretariat. He rode and trained race horses for over 30 years. He provided equine care, nursing the animals back to racing health. He also took part in husbandry, breeding premiere horses. Tim's family originates in North Carolina, though Tim rode and nurtured horses in all of the contiguous United States, except California. In 1999/2000, Tim experienced an injury on a farm who had not maintained insurance. He was subsequently acknowledged as having a physical disability and lost access to the career he loved so much.

He has since lived with minimal resources, living mostly on disability income. As a result, he does not have insurance nor pre-planned final expense funds.

Tim would have liked to be buried with his father back in North Carolina. Unfortunately, the cemetery where his parents are buried no longer has space available and is not active. Thus, when he passes, Jim will be left with little aid to provide for burial. Tim's faith and life experiences make cremation the last resort. Tim would prefer to be buried, if at all possible.

Jim is actively seeking assistance with final expenses from multiple sources. The full cost will range from $12,000 to $15,000. He is requesting aid from United Way, Medicaid, and other social services.

------------------------------------------

This fundraiser is being hosted by Safe Harbor Metropolitan Community Church through their "Final Expenses Benevolence Fund." This Fund provides grants paid toward the cost of final expenses to vendors providing burial and funeral services for members of affiliated Metropolitan Community Churches and their immediate family members. Grant amounts vary and are influenced by 1. availability of funds and 2. amount of need. Request an application for final expense funds at info@wfmcc.org.

The "Love for Tim B" campaign has been approved for support up to their full budget of $15,000. This fundraiser seeks to provide as much as possible, through the Fund. Any excess of such need will be reserved in the Fund for the next approved applicant.

NOTE: Funds are NOT disbursed to individuals. Any grant funds received are payble to vendors providing services, upon receipt of invoice.

Safe Harbor MCC is a part of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches and is a registered Texas (USA) nonprofit. Gifts to this Fund are reported as charitable gifts. Tax letters are provided to donors annually.

Love for Tim Boyce

By Safe Harbor MCC

Love for Tim Boyce

Help Jim bury his best friend and partner, Tim Boyce

Team Members