Royce Heath

Royce Payton Heath of Iredell, Texas passed away at age 91 on Friday, January 12, 2018 at Clifton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services for Mr. Heath were held Monday, January 15, 2018 at First United Methodist Church of Iredell. Graveside services, including presentations by the Clifton VFW and the Iredell Masonic Lodge followed at Mitchell cemetery in Iredell.

Born June 10, 1926 in Venus, Texas. Mr. Heath served in the Navy during WWII (1944 thru 1946) on a minesweeper in the Pacific Theatre of Operations (PTO). His ship was one of those tasked with sweeping Tokyo Harbor of mines prior to the arrival of the battleship USS Missouri for the official Japanese surrender. After his discharge from the U.S. Navy Royce settled in Arlington, Texas where he earned an Associate’s Degree from North Texas Agricultural College (now UT Arlington).

Royce married Johnson Station/Arlington beauty Dixie Kelly in 1947 and they lived in Arlington for close to 50 years prior to making a retirement relocation to Iredell in 1996, where Royce joined the Iredell Masonic Lodge and was elected Mayor in 2003.

Preceding Mr. Heath in death was his wife Dixie Kelly Heath (November 11, 2015) and his son Royce Payton Heath, Jr. (Bobby) in 1989.

Survivors include children, Joe Anderson Heath of Iredell, Leanne Donner and husband, Lee Donner of Clifton, Lisa Heath of San Angelo; grandchildren Jody Heath of Iredell, Erin Donner of Dallas, Erica Stenmark and husband, Ben of Clifton, Cheryl Stenmark and husband, Evan of San Angelo, Sean Michael Heath of Arlington; great-grandchildren Claire Stenmark of San Angelo, Audrey and Emma Stenmark of Clifton.

Memorials may be made to the Bosque Arts Center at P. O. Box 373, Clifton, TX 76634 or www.bosqueartscenter.com. Condolences may be made at www.cliftonfh.com.