James Roy

 James “Jim” Roy

March 23, 1943-September 16, 2021

Jim Roy passed away peacefully with his wife and family by his side on Thursday, September 16, 2021 due to complications from open heart surgery.

He came into life on Mar 23, 1943 in Burlington, Vermont born to French Canadian parents George and Mary Ann Camden Roy. He grew up throughout the United States prior to settling in rural Missouri in 1964 as his family bought and sold farms during his youth.

Jim resided for 53 years east of Spickard calling his farm home with his wife and four sons. He never got away from his roots as he farmed row crops, put up hay and raised livestock. He established Roy’s Backhoe and Trenching to help other farmers in need when rural water expansion began. He enjoyed working in his “down time” as a skilled heavy equipment and high-rise crane engineer for Local Union 101 playing with big kid toys. He started Roy’s Lawn Spraying to provide a way to enhance his community. And, he established Roy Enterprises, LLC to expand his creative dreams. This led to four patents he was very proud of, the BaleSaver, Brushrake, DryRite Fabric Softener Ball and Tree Trainer.

Jim married Rozella Ann “Babe” Keith on June 1, 1968. They had four sons together, Scott, Eric, Jarred and Jason who followed in their parents’ footsteps of capitalizing on education and experience as the best teacher of all. He was honored to be their father rejoicing in their individual successes expanding his living through them and with them. He had the honor of calling each one son and the pleasure of having each one as friend. He cherished their spouses as his “daughters” and even more that they gave him 15 wonderful grandchildren. Above all, he adoringly loved his wife of 53 years more than anything.

He enjoyed spending time on his farm watching the miracles of God at work. He treasured gathering with family at the home and traveling to attend the grandchildren’s activities. He believed deeply in his faith rarely missing a Sunday at church. He enjoyed conversations with friends as he never knew a stranger. You could find him tinkering in his shed, sitting in a stand or walking fields hunting or throwing in a line to land the “big one” fishing. Jim relaxed by listening to country and gospel music, watching Westerns of all genres, collecting rare coins, babying his cat Midnight and tending to his seasonal purple Martins.

Jim was an actively involved member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Trenton, MO, the Local 101 Operating Engineers Union in Kansas City, MO and the Boy Scouts of America’s Tribe of Mic-O-Say in St. Joseph, MO where he was an honorary member as “Great Talking Hunter”.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, George, his mother, Mary Ann, his sister, Jeanette, his father-in-law, Harold Keith, mother-in-law, Helen Brummett Keith, sister-in-law, Jean Keith Berry, brothers-in law Don Taylor, Sharon Berry and Ray Helmer, and nephews, Michael Berry and Todd Keith.

He is survived by his wife of the home of 53 years, Babe, and his sons and their families: Scott, Cindy Breilly and Sadie of rural Trenton, MO; Eric, Bobbie, Jessica, Jacob, Colton, Kaleb, Kammie and Nash of rural Brimson, MO; Jarred, Stacie, Morgan, Jacey, Nash and Landrie of Omaha, NE; and Jason, Melissa, Brady, Ella and Emma of Warsaw, MO. He is also survived by his sister, Irene Helmer of Anthem, AZ, his brother, George Roy of Centerview, MO; his brother of the heart Glenn Davenport (Lynnette) of Osceola, IA; his brother-in-law, Dean (Linda) Keith of Rolla, MO; his sister-in-law, Sue Taylor of Red Oak, TX and an amazing 32 nieces and nephews.

On behalf of the family, we greatly appreciate your support and condolences. In lieu of flowers, Jim’s wishes were to have memorial contributions made in his honor to the Trenton FFA Chapter noting Jim Roy Memorial in the memo. They can be mailed to Trenton FFA Chapter, Jim Roy FFA Memorial, 1415 Oklahoma Avenue, Trenton, MO 64683.

A private family graveside service will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens on Sunday, September 26th. A casual family and friend celebration of life will be from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Jim and Babe Roy farm east of Spickard on Highway B.

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