Roy Early, farmer/rancher, family man, and impromptu singer, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, Nov 20, 2022, at a hospital in Abilene. He was 89 years old.

Roy was born Roy Neil Early on January 11, 1933, in Concord, Texas to parents Jack and Florence Early. As a junior in high school, he met his beautiful wife, Oneita Early. They were married on August 3, 1950. She said she fell in love with him because he was kind, talkative, and persistent. Oneita preceded Roy in death on August 3, 2020, their 70 ^th wedding anniversary.

Always curious and willing to learn a new profession, Roy prided himself on having held many different types of careers. During his life he was a policeman, preacher, teacher, farmer, construction worker, and real estate agent. Most recently he was a deacon at Bangs First Baptist Church. He also had rental homes in Bangs and volunteered at the Texas Youth Commission Juvenile Detention Center in Brownwood. He spent the last year of his life at a retirement home in Abilene where he had many friends and was happy.

Roy was the patriarch of a large family. His three children, Phillis, Ricky, and Lesa survive him, as do his eight grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. His grandchildren remember him best for teaching them to fish, drive a car, and take care of the farm.

In place of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Roy's honor to the Bangs First Baptist Church.