Royce grew up during the depression. As a young boy he helped his dad sell Tyler Roses to business offices in Tyler for $.25 a dozen. The family moved to Port Arthur. In 1942 he started working for the defense plant making Anti-Aircraft shells. In 1946 he married his sweetheart Edna Mae Cordes, on November 30th. He worked construction moving from town to town. On September 9, 1947 they had a daughter, Gloria Phillips Richards. When Gloria started school, they settled in Houston. He worked for American Can Co. for about a year; then went to work for Stauffer Chemical Co., where he worked as a dragline operator for 37 years. During the 50’s, Royce became a volunteer Deputy Sherriff for Harris County. During his time with the Sherriff’s department, he helped to distribute the Polio vaccine to local schools in the area on the initial distribution of the little white sugar cubes.
He and his wife enjoyed deer hunting and traveling. He was an AVID CB-er when that was the big thing. Royce loved leather work. His hand tooled purses, holsters, and billfolds were displayed at the Tandy leather goods main store in downtown Houston. He was very creative with his hands and enjoyed making things for people.
Royce was preceded in death by father, Lloyd Phillips, Sr.; mother, Beulah Andrews Phillips; and brother, Lloyd Phillips, Jr.
Royce is survived by his wife of 72 ½ years, Edna Mae Phillips of Houston; daughter, Gloria Richards of Houston; sister, Dorothy Jean Block of Blanco, Texas; three grandchildren, David Richard, Sr. and wife Patricia of Shreveport, Louisiana, Kenneth Richard and wife Janette of Harden Texas, and Lee A. Richards and wife Patricia of Tomball, Texas; eight great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will be receiving friends Thursday, September 19, 2019 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Forest Park East Funeral Home 21620 Gulf Freeway, Webster, Texas 77598. Funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 19, 2019 at Forest Park East Funeral Home. Interment will be on Friday, September 20, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in Schulenburg, Texas.
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