John Edward Roylance

John Edward Roylance, 81, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on Memorial Day, May 25, 2015 at his home in Mapleton.

John was born October 1, 1933 in Provo, Utah, to Eugene and Nadine Roylance with three older brothers and one younger sister. He was raised in Provo and attended schools there including Provo High School where he later taught drafting. He attended Brigham Young University, receiving a Bachelor’s degree, then returned later in the 70s to receive a Master’s degree in Education. He started his career teaching at Dixon Junior High School and shortly thereafter, moved to Provo High School where he retired from in 1986. For many years, John supplemented his income by building homes and apartments. He also built the Young Mother’s Alternative High School in Provo. John’s three sons, Kyle, Gene and Gordon learned to build by working with him for many summers. The girls, too, were often assigned as clean-up crew.

John married his sweetheart, and cheerleading companion, Leona Isabel Aston on March 25, 1953 in the Salt Lake City Temple. They recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. They moved to Mapleton in 1961 and have made it their home for the last 54 years, making many dear friends and raising their eight children there.

Building has been a life-long love and pursuit of John’s. He built the family home in Mapleton, then remodeled and redecorated it many times. He has also spent his “retirement” years planning, designing and building a family park on the property of his home, complete with jail, gas station, stop lights and swings for the grandkids. He has spent nearly every day of those 30 years working in his park or in his shop, building many toys, picture frames and furniture for those he loved.

Throughout his life, John was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many capacities including Bishop, Bishopric counselor and counselor in the Stake Presidency. He and Leona later served a family history mission in the Utah Area South Mission for more than 10 years, which brought years of joy, friendship and fulfilment.

John is preceded in death by his parents, two of his older brothers, Alden and Tom Roylance, and his younger sister, Patricia Greenhalgh. His is survived by his wife, Leona, and his eight children including their spouses: Kyle and Cindy Roylance; Pam and Dennis Wilson; Janice and Ron Gonzales; Diane and Korry Bird; Eugene and Camille Roylance; Cheryl and Stan Beagley; Nancy and Barry Wollenzien; and, Gordon and Tanya Roylance. He is also survived by one older brother Keith Roylance, 37 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 30, 2015, at the South Main LDS Chapel, 1316 S. Main in Mapleton. There will be a viewing prior to the service at the church from 11:30-12:30 and Friday evening, May 29th, at the Wheeler Mortuary, 82 W. 400 N., Mapleton from 6-8:00 pm.