Obituary (I know it's long, but he was almost 98...)

Homer Freeman Royle (April 14, 1911 - February 18, 2009)

Homer Freeman Royle, 97, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family, ending a lifetime of active service to family and friends. Born April 14, 1911 in Lehi, Utah to James Freeman Royle and Lovinia McAllister Royle. He was the eldest of 7 children.

He attended Lehi Elementary School, graduated from Lehi High School (1930), Brigham Young University (1938), and the University of Oregon Dental School (1946). Homer served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mexican Mission from 1930-1933, beginning a lifetime of passion for missionary service that served him well as he presided over the West Spanish American Mission many years later (1967-1970). He influenced hundreds of his missionaries, encouraged countless young men and women to serve missions and reactivated numerous families while serving in the Adult Aaronic Priesthood Program of the Church. He served as Bishop of the American Fork 8th Ward, as a Counselor and then President of the Alpine Stake, as a temple sealer for 23 years in the Provo and Mt. Timpanogos Temples, being released from the latter when he turned 90 years of age! Homer’s Spanish speaking ability allowed him to perform temple sealing’s in both English and Spanish, and endeared him to returned Spanish speaking missionaries as well as the many Latino’s he admired. He also served as a Branch President at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah (1989-1992).

Homer returned from his mission and married his sweetheart, Emily Peay, Aug. 6, 1934 in the Salt Lake Temple. During the years of the great depression, he and Emily were able to start their family, graduate from BYU, begin teaching school in Monticello, Utah, and later in Pleasant Grove, Utah, where he built his first home, and then moved to Portland, Oregon to study Dentistry. Emily contracted the dreaded disease of polio in 1940, which changed their lives as they dealt with paralysis and confinement. But with great determination and perseverance, Homer met his life’s ambition of providing for his family as a Dentist, setting up practice in American Fork, Utah in 1947. His life was devoted to serving his fellow brothers and sisters, always striving to exemplify Christ-like virtues. He was a man of honor, integrity, compassion, and charity. He financially made it possible for a young member from Mexico to serve a mission, beginning a close relationship that has extended to Javier Moran, his wife, Olga, and their family of three generations. Homer also saved a young girl’s life by administering recuscitation to her after she was struck by a truck in front of his home. The special relationship that resulted with that young girl and her family has also endured the test of time. He was active in the Utah State Dental Association, serving for a time as its president. He served in the United States Army in 1944.

Upon retiring from Dentistry in 1977, mainly to care for Emily’s declining health, administering to her every need with great love and compassion, Homer bought a parcel of land adjacent to his back property and took up farming, a skill he learned well from his father many years earlier. Family and neighbors not only marveled at the irrigation system he designed and built, but they also reaped the benefits of the delicious harvest of crops.

He is survived by his four daughters: Nadine (Larry M.) Miller, Kathleen (Jim) Rasmussen, Jeanette (Alan) Monson, Diane (Bill) Harvey; sisters, Cleo Webb, Josephine Chatfield, and Miriam Larsen. He is preceded in death by his wife Emily who passed away 6 ½ years ago on their 68th wedding anniversary, his parents, a sister, Maymetta Johnson, brother, Glen, and infant brother, Richard; son-in-law, Dan Dedrickson, and two great-grandsons, Logan Dedrickson and Seth Nottingham. Homer’s posterity numbers 137 which includes 22 grandchildren, 77 great-grandchildren, and 30 great-great-grandchildren. Our Dad, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, and Friend will be greatly missed. Each of us appreciates the love he has freely given to us throughout his long life and we take great comfort in knowing he is enjoying a well-deserved family reunion in the eternal realms above.

The family wishes to express deep appreciation to the nurses and doctors who cared for Homer during his stay at the American Fork Hospital, and to the many fine caregivers and staff at Stonehenge who so graciously and lovingly met his needs. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in the American Fork 24th Ward Chapel, 100 E. 300 N. Friends and family may call at the church Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. and again Saturday from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Lehi City Cemetery with military honors. Online guestbook at wingmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the LDS Missionary Fund.