Royal Wilson Mays

Royal Wilson Mays, 88, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, passed to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 2, 2025. Royal was born on May 23, 1936, in Green County, Kentucky to Ray and Carvis Thompson Mays. He graduated from Green County High School in 1954, served in the United States Air Force and graduated from Campbellsville College in 1962 where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduating, Royal worked as an insurance adjuster for Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance until his retirement in 1994.

Royal enjoyed woodworking and frequently assisted others with wood projects. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing and golf. He was a born again Christian and served as a Sunday school teacher and deacon at Severns Valley Baptist Church as well as other churches throughout his life.

Royal is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Elsie Warren Mays; his daughter, Sherry Mays Lovan (Michael), son, Russell Wilson Mays (Kimberly); his five grandchildren, Rachel Lovan Gray (Daniel), John Michael Lovan, Kelsey Mays, Austin Mays, and Carly Mays; and one great-grandchild, River James Gray all of whom he dearly loved.

Funeral services to celebrate Royal's life will be held at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 12:00 with Dr. Matt Beasley officiating. Burial to promptly follow in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Radcliff, Kentucky. Visitation will be at Brown Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, from 10:00am to 12:00pm to the time of the service. The family request expressions of sympathy to take the form of donations to Shriner's Hospital or to the Hospice House of Southern Kentucky.