Don Arnold Roylance

Don Arnold Roylance, 75, passed away Sunday, March 4, 2018 at home with his eldest son and wife holding his hands. He was born October 21, 1942 in Payson, Utah, the son of Arnold Carter and Ruth Olsen Roylance.

Don was raised in Springville, Utah by his loving grandparents as well as his father and step-mother, Lucille. He loved the outdoors and was a true Utah boy who adored fishing, hunting and skiing. He attended and graduated from Springville High School in 1961 and soon thereafter joined the Army Reserves. At 19 he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints assigned to the North Central States Mission. After returning from his mission, Don attended Brigham Young University studying biology and chemistry where he met the love of his life, Loydene Bigelow. They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on June 11, 1965 for time and all eternity. After Loydene graduated, they moved to Scottsdale where Don served as a police officer while attending Arizona State University. He graduated with degrees in biology and chemistry and took a teaching job in St. David where he taught and coached high school. While there Don also obtained a Masters in teaching from the University of Arizona. The family then returned to Salt Lake City, Utah where Don obtained a second Masters in Fuels Engineering from the University of Utah. There they had their last of four children and relocated to Texas and then back to Tucson where they raised their family for several years.

Don loved running marathons and completed multiple races in his lifetime. His kids remember dad being able to eat anything and everything because he just ran it off.

Don worked for a time in California but always longed for his home in the mountains. In 2000 he and Loydene finished building their home in the mountains of Eagar. He retired as a college professor teaching chemistry and biology at Rancho Santiago Junior College and they finally returned to his beloved mountains. During those years he was able to spend many a night with his family surrounding him. He adored being with his grandkids and taking them fishing and on rides through the mountains. Don especially looked forward to dinner out with his brothers-in-law, Clinton and Joe; talking about the good old days.

Don is survived by his loving wife, Loydene Bigelow Roylance and four children: Graig (Hillary) Roylance, Tucson; Shelley (Greg) Broderick, Queen Creek; Tye (Heidi) Roylance, Erie, Colorado; Justin (Eliza) Roylance, Midway, Utah; as well as 19 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his siblings: Rondo (Janet) Jeffery, Terry (Diane) Roylance, Marcia (Kent) Cameron, Paul (Terri) Roylance and Mark (Linda) Roylance.

He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Steven and his great grandchild, Emmett.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eagar Amity building, 576 West School Bus Road, with visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow the funeral services at the Eagar Cemetery.