Obituaries for Jan. 13, 2009

Leland Royal

Leland Royal, 75, of Baker City, died peacefully at his home on Dec. 22, 2009, surrounded by family.

Although no immediate services are planned, there will be a celebration of Lee’s life in the spring of 2010 at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.

Leland was born on Oct. 31, 1934, at San Fernando, Calif., to Harry and Erma Royal. He was raised in the small town of Castic, Calif., graduating from Hart High at Newhall, Calif., at the age of 17. Leland then began his lifelong career with Cal Trans (State of California Department of Transportation Maintenance Department) in 1952.

He started at the bottom as a laborer and was promoted up into the position of maintenance supervisor. He chose to stay in this position as he so enjoyed running the road equipment. A career sitting at a desk was not for him, his family said.

In his early 20s, Leland married and fathered three children: Linda, Brad and Cliff. Living in the state yard on the Ridge Route for 16 years, he worked at keeping the main route north open.

In 1967, he was divorced and married Rowena Lager and her boys, Terry and Tom, at Saugus, Calif. Lee was a family man and enjoyed participating in the children’s sports as a coach and an enthusiastic spectator.

He was upgraded to supervisor of a road maintenance crew in 1973 and moved to Pinehurst in the High Sierras by Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park. There he and Rowena lived in the state yard for 19 years.

The work included tending more than 150 lane miles of mountain highway up to 7,000 feet elevation where an average of 240 inches of snow fell annually. He worked closely with the National Park Service, making many friends in the tight-knit community of Pinehurst.

There he continued to develop his love of nature. He enjoyed the outdoors and became quite a hunter and fisherman. He was a lifetime member of the NRA.

Lee was able to take early retirement in 1992 after 40 years of service and he and Rowena moved to Baker City on Pine Creek Lane at the base of the Elkhorn Mountains. This is where they planned to stay.

He loved the animals and the mountains. When he bought a John Deere tractor, his 2 year-old granddaughter, Grace, exclaimed, “That’s Papa’s new toy.”

He became a collector of all forms of John Deere. In his retirement, he also became a race car enthusiast — all kinds of racing from the NASCAR Circuit to Tom’s local demolition derby days.

He kept up the yard in the spring, summer and fall, and then in the winter, he would plow and trim up the snow banks at home as well as the road in front of the house. Anyone wanting the same for their home had only to ask him. He was cautious not to be pushy, but would help out if asked whether it be plowing, moving rock or dirt, or even pulling you out of a ditch — he would be there with this trusty John Deere, his family said. Rowena’s son, Tom, now runs the John Deere and continues the tradition.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Harry and Erma Royal; and his sister, Bonnie Tupin.

Survivors include his wife, Rowena; daughter, Linda Royal; sons, Brad and Cliff Royal and Tom and Terry Lager; his brother, Larry Royal; sister, Janet Pedersen; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Heart ‘n’ Home Hospice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.