1952
Charles
2016
Charles Roy, Jr.
June 4, 1952 — September 7, 2016
Charles Richard “Ric” Roy, Jr, 64, went to be with Our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at the Charles W. Gerstenberg Hospice Center in West Palm Beach following a bacterial bloodstream infection.
He leaves his wife of 40 years, Cathryn (Conerly) Roy; his three sons and daughters-in-law, Cliff and Melissa Roy, Ricky and Arika Roy, and Colin and Sarah Roy; his sister, Elizabeth Ann (Roy) Vincoli; his niece, Jennifer Leigh (Bowen) McKinney; five grand-daughters; and many life-long friends.
Born at Fort Lee, Virginia, to the military family of Charles and Viola Ann (Goolsby) Roy, he spent most of his childhood traversing the country as his father transferred from base to base. From Virginia to France to Missouri to Maryland, and finally settling in Mississippi.
After graduating Callaway High School, in 1970, he attended Hinds Community College, where he became an avid tennis player and local instructor. He transferred to USM in Hattiesburg. Overcoming bouts of illness, which caused him to step away from school for a time, Ric graduated with Honors, in 1976, with a bachelor’s degree in Community Recreation. He married his college sweetheart, Cathy Conerly, later that year. In 1979, the couple moved to Brandon and made First Baptist Church their home place of worship (through present day).
Throughout the next few years, he worked as a Recreation Therapist at Mississippi State Hospital where his hard work, diligence and personal integrity led him to promotions up to the position of Recreation Director. In 1981, Ric joined New York Life Insurance and quickly earned awards for salesmanship before medical challenges began to sideline him. While medically disabled and balancing the duties of a Stay-At-Home father of three sons, Ric still found the time to pursue his passion – his family. He helped establish a city-wide church basketball league for children; coached his sons in Little League Baseball; cheered on their high school and college athletic pursuits; modeled Christian ideals and beliefs for his sons’ spiritual growth; and celebrated year after year of marriage with his beautiful wife.
In all, his life encapsulated the epitome of what it means to be a great father, a devoted husband and a devout child of God. And though he is missed dearly, his family takes great comfort in the knowledge his spiritual happiness will last an eternity.
Visitation will be held at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon on Friday, 16 September from 6:00pm – 8:00pm and on Saturday, 17 September at 10:00am – 11:00am on the East Campus (S College St) of the First Baptist Church of Brandon. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, 17 September beginning at 11:00am at the East Campus (S College St) of First Baptist Church of Brandon. Interment will be immediately following the service and will take place at Crestview Memorial Gardens in Brandon.
In lieu of flowers, the family is happy to provide two opportunities to celebrate the life and love of Ric Roy in a lasting manner. Donations can be sent to the following:
In Memory of Ric Roy memorials may be made to, First Baptist Church of Brandon Benevolent Fund or to CARA of Jackson.
The family also wishes to sincerely express appreciation to all of the friends, family and medical personnel who constantly provided encouragement, prayers and expert care over Ric’s lifetime.
He leaves his wife of 40 years, Cathryn (Conerly) Roy; his three sons and daughters-in-law, Cliff and Melissa Roy, Ricky and Arika Roy, and Colin and Sarah Roy; his sister, Elizabeth Ann (Roy) Vincoli; his niece, Jennifer Leigh (Bowen) McKinney; five grand-daughters; and many life-long friends.
Born at Fort Lee, Virginia, to the military family of Charles and Viola Ann (Goolsby) Roy, he spent most of his childhood traversing the country as his father transferred from base to base. From Virginia to France to Missouri to Maryland, and finally settling in Mississippi.
After graduating Callaway High School, in 1970, he attended Hinds Community College, where he became an avid tennis player and local instructor. He transferred to USM in Hattiesburg. Overcoming bouts of illness, which caused him to step away from school for a time, Ric graduated with Honors, in 1976, with a bachelor’s degree in Community Recreation. He married his college sweetheart, Cathy Conerly, later that year. In 1979, the couple moved to Brandon and made First Baptist Church their home place of worship (through present day).
Throughout the next few years, he worked as a Recreation Therapist at Mississippi State Hospital where his hard work, diligence and personal integrity led him to promotions up to the position of Recreation Director. In 1981, Ric joined New York Life Insurance and quickly earned awards for salesmanship before medical challenges began to sideline him. While medically disabled and balancing the duties of a Stay-At-Home father of three sons, Ric still found the time to pursue his passion – his family. He helped establish a city-wide church basketball league for children; coached his sons in Little League Baseball; cheered on their high school and college athletic pursuits; modeled Christian ideals and beliefs for his sons’ spiritual growth; and celebrated year after year of marriage with his beautiful wife.
In all, his life encapsulated the epitome of what it means to be a great father, a devoted husband and a devout child of God. And though he is missed dearly, his family takes great comfort in the knowledge his spiritual happiness will last an eternity.
Visitation will be held at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon on Friday, 16 September from 6:00pm – 8:00pm and on Saturday, 17 September at 10:00am – 11:00am on the East Campus (S College St) of the First Baptist Church of Brandon. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, 17 September beginning at 11:00am at the East Campus (S College St) of First Baptist Church of Brandon. Interment will be immediately following the service and will take place at Crestview Memorial Gardens in Brandon.
In lieu of flowers, the family is happy to provide two opportunities to celebrate the life and love of Ric Roy in a lasting manner. Donations can be sent to the following:
In Memory of Ric Roy memorials may be made to, First Baptist Church of Brandon Benevolent Fund or to CARA of Jackson.
The family also wishes to sincerely express appreciation to all of the friends, family and medical personnel who constantly provided encouragement, prayers and expert care over Ric’s lifetime.
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