J. Roy Smith

OKLAHOMA CITY - James Roy Smith, beloved husband, father, stepfather, grandfather and friend, passed away in his home with his wife, Bev, beside him on October 21, 2022 at the age of 80 years.

Roy was born in Lawton, OKto Clare and Ramona (Shaw) Smith on February 4, 1942. He grew up in Oklahoma City, attendedHoraceMann Elementary School and Harding High School, participating in several sports, and graduated in 1960. Roy attended Westminster College in Fulton, MO, pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon, joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard, attained the rank of Captain, and graduated from TheUniversity of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.

Following college, Roy worked for an advertising agency in Norman. He established his own company, Bank Marketing Systems, and subsequently sold the company to First Oklahoma Bancorporation in Oklahoma City, continuing to run the company as a subsidiary. During his banking career he chartered six national banks and was Chairman of the Board of Park Avenue Bank. He then moved to Wiesbaden, Germany to form a new extended warranty company, GMVGarantieManagement GmbH. Following a successful four years, he sold the company to a British insurer and returned to Oklahoma City where he entered into business with Comp RiskManagement as Executive Vice President. Roy continued to work until he retired at the age of 76 when he was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) in 2018. He bravely endured a four-year struggle with this debilitating disease, losing all ability to read, write, and communicate.

Roy served on the Board of Directors of OKC Beautiful and the Alzheimer’s Association of OKC. He was a member of the Economic Club of Oklahoma City, the Board of DirectorsYMCA Camp Classen of Oklahoma, member of Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, UnitedWay of Greater Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Bankers Association, Oklahoma State Treasurer’s Advisory Council, and Mid America Clearing House Association.

Roy loved music all of his life, becoming an accomplished piano man. He loved to take over the piano in restaurants and bars when the pianist took breaks - and guests loved it! He continued playing his piano at home until the last two months of his life and especially enjoyed entertaining his daughters and grandchildren when they visited.

Roy’s lifelong passion for fishing began at 10 years old tying flies for his uncle - for a fee! At 14 years old he caught his first trout on a fly he had tied and he was “hooked” for life! He fished all over the world for the past 40 years with groups of friends - Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Belize, Andros Island in Bahamas, France, Austria, Germany, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and his favorite - The Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, Last Chance, Idaho. He and Bev also returned to Europe several times and fished together on trips to New Mexico, Idaho and Colorado. He was truly an accomplished fly fisher and no doubt he is fishing inHeaven now with several of his buddies already there.

Roy was a true and loyal friend to many people, always enthusiastic, optimistic, kind and thoughtful - with a splash of humor. He loved his daughters Cristy, Kelly and Courtney, his stepdaughter Ashley, his six grandchildren and was thrilled each time they visited him. The anchor in his life was his beloved wife Bev and he adored her. Roy and Bev spent 28 wonderful years together as the love of each other’s lives and married June 1, 2002.

Roy was predeceased by his parents Clare and Ramona Smith, his sister Marilyn Summers and brother-in-law Hardy Summers.

Roy is survived by his wife Beverley; daughters CristyMcAtee and husband David McAtee, Kelly Parker and fiancé Oscar Durham, Courtney Smith Sears and husband Ian Sears; stepdaughter Ashley Dahnke; and his grandchildren Ford Parker, Payne Parker, David McAtee, Kate McAtee, Cannon Sears, and Griffin Sears; niece Julia Summers and family, nephew Andrew Summers and family, several cousins, and many very special friends - a list too lengthy to name.

The family wishes to thank his doctors in the INTEGRIS Hospital family, in particular Dr. Jennifer Li for her support during the last fewmonths and his caretakers from Right-At-Home Edmond for their care the past two years.

AMemorial Service and Celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4400 N. Shartel, Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in his honor to Oklahoma City Beautiful, 3535North Classen, Oklahoma City, OK 73118, or okcbeautiful.com. www.smithandkernke.com

The Oklahoman, Sunday, October 30, 2022