Jean Royer

Jean “Punky” Peterson Royer, 84, of Bellefontaine passed away Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at the Green Hills Inn, West Liberty.

She was born in Bellefontaine on January 7, 1931, a daughter of the late Frank and Maxine (Abel) Peterson.

She married Donald N. Royer on January 14, 1949 and he preceded her in death on April 28, 1989. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Frank Peterson; sisters, Janet Himes and Phyllis Peterson; sister-in-law, Helen Peterson; and brother-in-law, Charles Himes.

She is survived by three daughters, Dava D. Royer, Bellefontaine, Janis A. (David) Ivory, Brunswick, Ohio, and Julia M. Bolton, Overland Park, Kansas; a brother, Michael A. (Barbara) Peterson; five grandchildren, Jason (Tonya) Ivory, Danielle (Joel) DeRuyter, Jon (Lindsey) Ivory, Brett and Scott Bolton; seven great grandchildren Ella, Abby, and Addison Ivory, Davis and Joss “Punky” DeRuyter, and Parker and Mylah Ivory; and numerous nieces and nephews; special friends, Cindy Daring, Jane Weeks, Gerry Henry, Vicky Arnold, and Ron Hadley.

Jean was a 1948 graduate of Bellefontaine High School of which she had many lifelong friends. After graduation, she began her career as a legal secretary in Bellefontaine for the late Edward Thompson, followed by West & West, MacGillivray, Hadley & O’Connor and retiring as Assignment Commissioner under Judge Ronald Hadley and Judge Mark O’Connor of the Logan County Common Pleas Court in 1992. After retiring, she worked part-time in the Logan County Law Library until 2003.

She was very proud of her family and loved spending time with all of them along with traveling to visit them. She and her husband began playing bridge at a very young age as did many of their friends. So many weekends were spent at each of their homes playing bridge along with many “Bridge Clubs” they belonged to.

Jean started piano lessons at a very young age and continued playing throughout most of her life. Her love of music was a constant in their home, especially while raising their three daughters. Her love of dance and the theatre has definitely carried through to her grandchildren as they have chosen them as their careers of which she was so proud.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Martha Church Circle, Logan County Friendly Senior Center and was a Holland Theatre Supporter.

Deacon Harold Dipple will officiate a funeral service at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 4, 2016 in the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, Bellefontaine. Calling hours will be two hours prior to the funeral service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, 321 N. Main St., Bellefontaine assisted the family with arrangements.

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