Jim Roys

Jim Roys was a quiet, hardworking man, a naturally private person who always preferred giving credit to others. He was fiercely devoted to his family, which he cared about more than anything in the world. But like so many that knew Jim, he meant the world to them, as well.

Jim was born on a warm Thursday on August 26, 1943, the third of four children to Adolph and Margaret (Sommerdyke) Roys. The family lived in a home at 258 Richards SW, near John Ball Park, where Jim spent so much of his youth playing in the fields. And when he wasn't at the park, you could usually find Jim at the old Butterworth Dump, rummaging around and shooting rats with his buddies, Ray Anderson, Paul Palaszek, Pete Rybicki and Jerry Tokarz. It was a common pastime for boys back then.

But his youth was far from all play and no work, however. Jim learned the value of a dollar at an early age when he unloaded the delivery trucks for the Detroit Free Press in the mornings for some spending cash - starting at 3:30 in the morning! He also worked at Versluis Orchards as a boy. But Jim always worked hard for what he had, including his first car, a 1957 Plymouth, which he paid just $50 for.

Jim, along with older brothers Gene and Dennis, and younger sister Mary Jo, attended Sacred Heart Catholic School (the entire family were members of the church there), and later graduated from Catholic Central High School, Class of 1961.

After he graduated, Jim joined the U.S. Navy, where he learned a valuable trade, becoming a Master Electrician. Jim was discharged at the age of 21, and his life would suddenly change.

A friend fixed Jim up with a beautiful young girl named Sandy, and the two went on a blind date one winter day, tobogganing at Johnson Park. It might have been cold outside, but there was clearly a spark that warmed them both, and the two were married after just a few months of dating. They exchanged vows on July 10, 1965 in St. Andrews Cathedral in downtown Grand Rapids, beginning a lifelong love affair. They enjoyed their honeymoon in the Upper Peninsula.

The happy young couple then moved into their first apartment together, a little place at 1647 Nagel in Wyoming, which was just a little too close to the firestation for comfort. The sirens always woke them up at all hours of the night!

And while Jim might have gotten married, that couldn't slow him down too much - not after buying his 1965 Chevy Impala SS. He paid $2,161 for that beauty, a car he loved and drove for 13 years.

Eventually, Jim and Sandy saved up enough to buy their first home, at 324 Cummings, which is still the family home today. They paid $14,500 for the house back then, which was a lot, but they needed the space. Their family was about to get bigger.

Jim and Sandy were soon blessed with two daughters, Julie, born July 14, 1967, and Jamie, born August 6, 1969, and Jim was so proud of his girls. Their children attended Cummings Elementary nearby and later Grandville High School.

Jim loved his family so much, and cherished the times they spent together. They took many vacations together, forming so many fond memories of their adventures. Together they traveled to Florida, to Disney World, south of the border to Mexico, Texas, Maine, three cruises and countless camping trips in between. But it didn't really matter to Jim where they went, as long as they were together. On Sundays they attended St. Pius X Catholic Church in Grandville together.

In October of 1976, Jim took a job with the Keebler Cookie Company, working as a maintenance supervisor, a position he held for over 25 years. Jim enjoyed the job, and it helped him provide for his family, which was always the most important thing.

Jim would do anything for his family and was always very close to his brothers and sister. He put a pool in his backyard, where his mother-in-law, children and grandchildren all learned to swim. He loved his granddaughters, Rachel and Courtney, dearly and always felt so blessed to see them as much as he did, which was almost daily. And to them, he was King.

Jim's home was truly his castle. A quiet man and a bit of a homebody, Jim was always putzing around the house, feeding the birds, fixing things, grilling food, or cooking with his pressure cooker. He was a good Catholic man, and therefore a huge Notre Dame fan, and loved watching the Fighting Irish on television. He also loved to watch the Weather Channel, and movies on TV (he'd always tape them, too).

Yes, Jim was a man with many loves, but none greater than his love for his family. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma August 21, 2005, lung cancer from asbestos, and underwent two radiation and three chemotherapy treatments before the disease took him January 17, 2006. Jim died at the home he loved so much, with the family he loved so much close by his side - just where he always wanted them.

He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered.

Mr. James Paul Roys, age 62, of Walker, passed away of mesothelioma, on Tuesday afternoon, January 17, 2005 in the presence of his loving family. He was a graduate of Catholic Central High School, and a Veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he was a master electrician. He worked as a maintenance supervisor at Keebler Co. for 25 years. He was a member of the American Legion post #179, Ludington Elks Lodge and the Ludington F.O.E. Eagles. Jim is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sandy Roys; his daughters and sons-in-law, Julie and Del Fend, Jamie and Mike Horn. He was King to his granddaughters, Rachel and Courtney. Also surviving are his brothers and sisters-in-law, Gene (Betty) Roys, Dennis (Barbara) Roys; his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jo (Paul) Drueke; his father-in-law, Al (Joan) Schmidt; many aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. Cremation has taken place. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 3937 Wilson Ave. in Grandville. Friends and relatives are invited to meet his family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW on Friday from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m., and again at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass. Please visit Jim's web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his life story, sign his guestbook, and leave your memories of him. Please consider contributions in his memory to the Lacks Cancer Center or Hospice of Michigan.