Mr. Roy Old Fart Van Stanley

Roy Van Stanley, age 78 of Gadsden, passed away Sunday, April 5, 2015. The funeral service will be at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at Collier- Butler Funeral Home. Pastor Allen Reagan will officiate. Burial will be at Rainbow Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 7, 2015 from 6-8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Mr. Stanley was a Vietnam Veteran that retired from the Marine Corps after 21 years with the rank of Master Gunnery Sargent. “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” He worked as a foreman with Gulf State Steel Plant where he retired after 20 years. Mr. Stanley loved his garden and sharing it with others. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a compassionate person that always thought of others. He was a supportive brother, a great uncle, and a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Mr. Stanley will be greatly missed by many.

Roy Van Stanley was preceded in death by his parents, Maggie Malisa Mixon and Henry Mims Stanley; mother and father-in-law, Ethel and Robert Joseph Nickerson; sisters, Elsie Stanley, Mary Grace (JC) Cooper, Helen Faulk, Inez Ali; brother, James Terrell Stanley; and son-in-law, Alan Courington.

He is survived by his wife, June Elizabeth Nickerson Stanley; daughters, Robin Chapman, Pamela Courington, Joan Martin; sons, Joseph (Mary) Stanley, Bob (Jenny) Stanley; grandchildren, Jerome Cochran Chapman IV, Robert Joseph Chapman, Jamie (Mandy) Courington, Candace Jones, Paige (JJ) Ponce, Molly, Maryrives, and Ripp Stanley, Emily and Abby Stanley; great grandchildren, Sydnee Courington, Alan Latrent Pinson, Alexus, Jonathan, and Olivia Ponce; brothers, TJ (Helen) Stanley, George (Beth) Stanley; and several loved nieces, nephews, and family members.

Pallbearers will be Jerome Cochran Chapman IV, Robert Joseph Chapman, George Stanley, Jerry Stanley, Mike McMew, and Sgt. JJ Ponce.

The family will accept flowers, or in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project.

The family would like to give special thanks to several close family friends as well as Dr. Lowe and Dr. McGuire.