March 16, 1936 – February 22, 2023
Emily Patricia “Pat” Roy, née Smith, age 86, passed away, unexpectedly in her sleep, on Tuesday evening, February 22, 2023, at her home, after enjoying an excellent dinner and evening visit with her daughter, Laura, her dog, Coco, and Daisy, her cat.
Pat was born March 16, 1936, on Galveston Island, Texas to the late Eulalia Deford Smith and Emmette Burch Smith.
She moved to Greenville, Ohio as a child and grew up there, graduating from Greenville High School in 1953. She started attending Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana that same fall, spent her junior year at Ohio State, and graduated from Earlham in 1957 with an AB in chemistry.
When she was 18 and a sophomore, Pat met her future husband, Harold. She always said she liked him well enough, but she wouldn’t marry him if he were the last man on Earth. Of course, 2 years later, in 1956, they were secretly married. Their son, Michael, was born on August 1, 1957. They lived in Greenville for 4 more years and then in 1961, they moved to Winchester, Indiana, which was Harold’s hometown. On July 31, 1963, their second child, Laura, was born, and their family was complete.
Pat got involved in theater in Winchester, joining The Randy Players and her love of theater blossomed. She would perform in theater and opera for the next 60 years. She was a very accomplished soprano and sang with Opera Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community choir for the Symphony with Soul, and many solo opportunities as well.
In 1967, the Roy family moved up to Grand Rapids following a job opportunity for Harold, and settled in. In 1968, they located their dream house in East Grand Rapids and started raising their family. Pat was a substitute teacher for the East Grand Rapids school system and then in 1971, she became a teacher’s aide for West Kelloggsville elementary school. In 1976, she changed careers and started working for Union Bank as a teller. It was there that her love of finance was born. She worked for Union Bank and then William C. Roney brokerage until she decided to branch out on her own and become a financial planner, working with American Express financial services, achieving her CFP in 1993. She would continue to be a financial planner until the day she passed. She found her true calling as an adviser and cared so much about all of her clients.
She was an adventurous spirit and loved to travel. India, Italy, and New Orleans were three of her favorite places. She was an avid gardener, an amazing cook who loved to entertain, and loved working on her house. Her faith was also a huge part of her life. She was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church for 42 years, and served on many committees and was the finance officer on the Vestry for quite a while. Singing in the choir there brought much joy to her. Having people over to the house for food and fellowship was in her blood.
She was a 62 year member of the Sophie de Marsac Campau chapter of the DAR, a member of the Grand Rapids Women’s City Club, a member of the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, a board member of the Alliance Francaise de Grand Rapids, was an ambassador for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce from 1985 to 89, she served as vice president for the West Michigan Alfa Romeo owners association from early to mid-1990s, she served as a finance chair and board member of East town food Co-Op from 1984 to 1990, she served as president, treasurer and board member of Circle Theater Grand Rapids in the late 1970s and early eighties. She served as treasurer for Heritage theater group from 1999 to 2002. She acted with every theater group in Grand Rapids, with the majority of her acting work being with Civic and Circle theaters.
In 1996, Daughter Laura got married and in the next few years presented her with 2 granddaughters, Emma Jessie in 1997, and Elise in 2002, who were the light of her life.
You could often find Pat sitting on her front porch in nice weather with her family and whichever dog was currently in her life, visiting with the neighbors. She lived a full and satisfying life and she will be sorely missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Marie, Frances, and Jeanne. Her husband Harold preceded her in death exactly 25 years prior.
She is survived by her son, Michael; her daughter Laura; and granddaughters, Emma Jessie Rossell and Elise Rossell
The family will receive visitors at the Tribute Funeral Homes, Greenville campus, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, from 10:00 AM until the time of her service at 11:00 AM.
Funeral services will follow at 11:00 AM at the funeral home with Father Daniel Linnenberg presiding. Burial will follow in Beamsville Cemetery.
Memorial contributions, if so desired, may be made to St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 201 S. Broadway Street, Greenville, Ohio 45331.
Online condolences may be shared with Pat’s family by visiting www.tributefuneralhomes.com.