Royce Dickens

Royce is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara J. Dickens; brothers, Rex, Regal, Reed, Raymond, Roland, and Robert Dickens; sisters, Edna, Evelyn Bryant, Estelle Smith, Baby Girl; step-son, David L. Dosier; and son, William T. Dickens.

Royce had to quit school at an early age to help provide for family after the passing of his mother. Royce began farming at the Kaufman county Poor farm (Poor farms were federally mandated across the country after the Great Depression). When Royce became of age, he enlisted into the army. Royce served in World War II; Army Air Force, and served in Okinawa, Japan as a military policeman during the peace talk.

While Royce was deployed, the county farm had to be staffed with prisoners to farm, due to a shortage of help because of the war. Royce's father, Thomas Dickens, was the constable and jailer of Kaufman county and in charge of the farm.

After being honorably discharged, Royce returned home, going back to work at the county farm as a mounted guard under the direction of his father.

At the age of 28, Royce met the love of his life, Barbara J. Potts, mother of four young children. They married January 15, 1956, and later had two children of their own. In 1960 the family moved to DeSoto, Texas from Dallas, Texas.

Royce had numerous jobs throughout his lifetime, most of them being self-employed. He hauled fertilizer to the "Hunt" Ranch in Kaufman County; started Royce's Storage & Transfer company, hauling pianos and furniture; he drove for Sinclair oil company; had a mobile produce stand while also volunteering for the DeSoto Fire Department. During this time, his mobile produce stand found a permanent location, expanding business to a well known hamburger and snow-cone stand. With the help of Barbara and the children, Royce was able to become a paramedic and work the ambulance service in DeSoto under the direction of West Funeral Home. He would then go on to become a certified embalmer. Royce also worked in the automobile business, rebuilding auto parts, and later on he would downsize the business to help take care of Barbara, her ailing mother, and her mothers' ailing sister. While helping them; funds were getting low so he had to get a day job near the house, becoming a service manager at a U-Haul. Due to an injury from a fall at work, U-Haul let him go stating "he was too old to be working", so he retired at the age of 70.

Royce enjoyed being a well known avid horse trader for several years. When Royce and his family moved to DeSoto, he helped organize the DeSoto riding club and rodeo. As a family, we had a lot of great times there and would rodeo nearly every weekend. We would also go on trail rides, camping, and fishing when time allowed.

Even though Royce was a stern father, he strived and worked hard to provide for his family, including their extra curricular activities when he could.

Royce is survived by his step-daughter Linda Kay Dosier Myers, step-son Kenneth Ray Dosier, step-daughter Geneva "Renay" Dosier Johnson, and daughter Mary Storm Leavelle Dickens Fincher and husband Charles (Chuck) Fincher; also by 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Royce was loved by many. He will be missed by many.