Bob Royer

Mr. Robert Alvin (Bob) Royer, 82, of Batesville, formerly of Blytheville, died Saturday, May 14, 2011, at Clear Lake Regional Hospital in Houston (Webster), Texas, of complications from mesothelioma. He was born in Enid, Okla., Oct. 6, 1928, to Ray W. and Dora H. Royer.

Mr. Royer lived on the family farm until college in 1944. He first attended Phillips University and graduated from the University of Oklahoma as a Chemical Engineer in 1950.

Mr. Royer married Nadine Pounds in 1951; two daughters came from the union: Pam Royer Bolles and Elizabeth Royer Watkins of Seattle, Wash.

He worked for the Navy and then Phillips Petroleum with assignments in Ardmore, Okla., and Baghdad, Iraq. Upon returning to the States he began working for Conoco in Ponca City. Conoco transferred him to Lake Charles, La., and then to Blytheville. During his time in Blytheville he was employed by Conoco, Agrico and Freeport-McMoran. He also worked a short time for Arcadian in Memphis.

He was united in marriage to Eleanor Hill Royer in Blytheville March 19, 1978. They moved to Batesville in 2010.

Mr. Royer was an active member of the Blytheville community, where he was a member for over 40 years and Elder of the First Christian Church. He served as Chairman of the Board several times. He was a longtime member and past president of the Kiwanis Club in Blytheville and recently joined the club in Batesville. During his time in the Blytheville club he had many years of perfect attendance as well as spearheading the interclub committee and working with youth. He was also involved in Emmaus. He was on the board of Red Cross and donated over 10 gallons of blood. Mr. Royer was a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution, re-instituted the Chickasaw Chapter in Blytheville, and served as president. He was also a member of the Blytheville-Gosnell Chamber of Commerce.

He loved to travel and oversee gardening. He enjoyed music and loved to go to plays and musicals at the theatre. He had a great appreciation for the stained glass window in First Christian Church. He enjoyed light maintenance work and always had a good relationship with workers.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Dora Royer; two daughters, Pam Royer Bolles and Martha Rushing Payne; his brother, Winston Royer; and his sister, Lou Ellen Royer Swinton.

Mr. Royer leaves his wife of over 33 years, Eleanor;

His daughter Liz Royer Watkins and her husband, Jan;

Eleanor's children, Sharon R. Powell and her husband, John David, Stephanie R Miller and her husband, Randy, and Ben D Russell and his wife Kim.

He also leaves his grandchildren, Jennifer Bolles, Hill Olsen and her husband, Kirk, George Watkins, Bryan Bolles, Hayden Watkins, Shade Powell, Matthew Miller, Jacob Russell, Samantha Miller and Jordan Russell;

One very special great-grandson, Halvor Olson; and

An extended family and many friends.

Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Thursday at the First Christian Church in Blytheville. The memorial service will begin at 6 p.m. with Dr. Tommy J Carney officiating. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery in Batesville at 1 p.m. Friday with Kay and Bob Burton, pastors of First Methodist Church of Batesville, officiating.

The family requests in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the First Christian Church, the Red Cross or The Haven. The guestbook can be signed and condolences sent to www.carneyfuneralhome.com