Sykes, Royce Wayne Sr.

, 84, passed from this life into eternity with our Lord and Savior, Friday, December 25, 2020.  Royce was born in Henderson County, Tennessee to Curtis D. Sykes and Katherine N. (Myracle) Sykes on June 6, 1936.  His family moved to St. Louis when he was a boy and he lived there until graduating from high school and joining the Coast Guard in 1955.  Prior to his joining the Coast Guard he met the love of his life, Patricia Ann (Eaves) Sykes while working at a Velvet Freeze Ice Cream Shop together.  Once Royce finished serving his country in the Coast Guard he came back to St. Louis and went to school where earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Washington University.  He and Patricia eventually moved to Arnold Missouri to raise their family.  He spent his career in Human Resources and served diligently in that role for over 30 years. Royce was a loving, hard-working, dedicated husband, father and grandfather, but most importantly he was a Christian man who, along with his wife, raised their family in a Christian home, serving faithfully as a member at First Baptist Church of Arnold for over 57 years.  He enjoyed working in his garden and sharing honey from his bee hives but most of all he loved his coon dogs and weekends when he would go coon hunting with his hunting buddies.

Royce is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years Patricia Ann Sykes, daughter, Beverly Diane Davidson, son, Curtis Gentry Sykes, his 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.   He is proceeded in death by his parents, Curtis and Katherine Sykes, his sister Marjorie Heath, his brother John Sykes and his eldest son Royce Wayne Sykes Jr.

Visitation at First Baptist Church of Arnold on Tuesday, January 5 from 10:30 until service at 11:30. Interment J.B. National Cemetery. Kutis South County service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be sent to Alzheimer’s Foundation or the National Veterans Foundation.