Daniel Paul Roy

On April 10, 2022, Dan Roy passed quickly and without warning into eternity. The shock made me feel like the sun had stopped shining, but increasingly I see the imprints of love he left on all of our hearts. - MR

Daniel Paul Roy was born to Don and Rosalie Roy on April 7, 1959, and he grew up as a lifelong resident of Olympia. As the middle-child sandwiched between two sisters, Dan quickly developed an aptitude for working with people. These skills served him well throughout his life and devotion to God.

Dan spoke fondly of growing up and summer memories with cousins at Westport. Beginning at age 14, he worked as a deckhand on salmon charter boats, work he performed for several years. He also rented out the other beds in his travel trailer to deckhands, showing business acumen at a young age.

Dan was proud to be part of the first graduating class of the newly founded Capital High School (1977) where he established many friendships that endured throughout his life. During his senior year, Dan introduced himself to Phyllis Bloss and he spent evenings delivering furniture for her fledgling business, Phyl’s Furniture.

The day after his graduation, Phyl's Furniture transitioned from evenings only retailer to a full-time business. The company grew and so did Dan as he excelled as a sales associate, store manager, and regional manager. For 35 years he gained experience, friends, and fun memories, including those made in frequent trips to the North Carolina, San Francisco, and Las Vegas furniture shows. When Phyl's Furniture closed its Aberdeen location in 2012, Dan was quickly adopted into the Furniture World family, a warm and wonderful group that he loved working with during the last 10 years of his life.

Dan was known for sharing his limitless care and concern for others. He formed many friendships with customers, furniture representatives, and support staff within the vendor offices. His co-workers knew him for his quick wit, high expectations, and sharp, business mind, all of which were balanced with a love for fun and teasing humor. He shared his wisdom, counsel, and encouragement with countless young employees as he coached those hired to assemble, move, and deliver furniture throughout the years.

While working full-time, Dan attended classes at South Puget Sound Community College where he befriended a fellow student and her family. That meaningful friendship eventually led him to the love of his life, Melissa (Griffin), and they were married in January of 2000. While the wedding day was stormy, the event was festive and joyful. Dan and Melissa completed each other with a bond of love and faith that filled each day of their decades together. With Dan and Melissa, family was always loved, and friends were always treated like family.

While Dan’s love for children was long evident, the birth of Isaac Daniel Roy in 2002 expanded his life like a flower blooming. For years Dan had been a father figure to those in need, and his well-tuned skills earned him recognition as the "Best Dad in the World." The time and love he invested in Isaac is a seed returning a harvest one-hundred fold from good soil. Dan's love for, and pride in, Isaac knew no bounds.

Other notable examples of Dan’s concern for others included working at the Thurston County Dispute Resolution Center, manning the Thurston County Crisis phone line, and sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus with the Thurston County Jail Outreach and mission trips, including a trip to South Africa in 1991.

Dan loved Melissa and Isaac, led by example, and lived by faith. Today we feel the pain of his passing - let us cry together, hug each other, and hug each other again. But in so doing, let us avoid dwelling on what is no more, and instead be grateful for what was and for what remains.

Daniel Paul Roy, a loving husband and father, bettered countless lives, displayed unwavering generosity, and filled the air with laughter.

Melissa and Isaac would like to acknowledge the tremendous outpouring of love received from family and friends, and they are proud to share his memory and life celebration at Mills & Mills Funeral Home in Tumwater on April 25, 2022.

Dan sought wisdom and grace daily at the feet of his heavenly Father. One scripture that embodies his life is Matthew 5:16:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Dan was preceded in death by his mother, Rosalie Webb, but is survived by his father and step-mother, Don and Jeannie Roy of Olympia, and by his wife Melissa and son Isaac. He is also survived by sisters Vicki Gregoire (her husband, Jerry Gregoire) of Olympia, Deanna Stewart (her husband, Rich Stewart) of Shelton, and brother Lou Roy of Centralia. Also mourning for Dan and celebrating his life are a multitude of loving in-laws, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

For those who have been asking, Dan's generous heart has supported the Thurston County and Grays Harbor County food banks, also the Union Gospel Mission and Habitat for Humanity.

Most recently, his heart was focused toward Isaac's former school. Sunrise Beach School https://sunrisebeachschool.org/