Mortimore, Roy Eugene

Roy Eugene Mortimore, 91, of Des Moines, died Thursday, May 3, 2012, at West Ridge Care Center in Cedar Rapids of natural causes. A private family committal service will be held in Des Moines. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at Merle Hay Funeral Home, 4400 Merle Hay Rd., Des Moines, IA 50310, with Masonic and military honors. The Rev. Jean McCarthy of St. Mark's Episcopal Church will officiate.

Survivors include his son, Steven (Nancy), Swisher; daughter, Vonda (George) Cummins, Charles City; daughter, Joyce (Dennis) Rand, McKinney, Texas; grandchildren: Jamie Toledo, Cedar Rapids; Brad Mortimore (Denise Kleppe), Mankato, Minn.; DJ (Amy) Rand, Olathe, Kan.; Eric (Stacey) Rand, Overland Park, Kan.; David (Stephanie) Cummins, Des Moines; Aaron Cummins, Crystal Lake, Ill.; Rachel Cummins, Glendale, Ariz.; and Molly (Andy Hutchison) Cummins, Glendale, Ariz.; great-grandchildren: Andie Toledo; Tyler, Andrew, Anna and Trey Rand; Emery and baby Rand; Nicholaus Cummins and Madalyn Hutchison; and sister, Esma Graham of Des Moines.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Virginia.

Roy was born May 25, 1920, in Linden, Iowa, to Roy Dean Mortimore and Reba Roine Brown, and graduated from Lincoln High School in Des Moines. After courting Virginia on his motorcycle, Roy married Virginia Steven in Des Moines on June 27, 1942, and had a wonderful pal for almost 60 years.

Roy served in the Army Air Corps from 1943-1945, serving in the Pacific Arena, and in the Reserves from 1946-1948. He was a flight engineer on a B 24 bomber, Heavy Bomb Group 27th Squadron, 7th Air Force.

Roy owned Mortimore Construction from 1945-1972 and retired from Seed and Grain Construction in 1983.

Roy was a member of South Gate Masonic Lodge, having joined in 1951, Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, and ZaGaZig Shrine. He was a 51-year member of the Lions. He was an active volunteer for the distribution of food and Christmas baskets for the South Side Community House for many years. Roy also volunteered with Boy Scout Troop 40 from 1952-1963.

Roy was a gentleman and a man of his word, often doing business with a handshake. He loved the outdoors, gardening, and fishing, and for many years had a lake cabin both in Minnesota and Missouri. He and Virginia traveled extensively in the U.S., and also visited Swaziland, Australia/New Zealand, and Mexico.

A wonderful family man, Roy loved nothing better than to have his children and their families around him.

The family would like to thank the staff at West Ridge Care Center and the Palliative and Hospice Health Care teams from St. Luke's for their kindness and compassion during Roy's last months and hours. Your presence meant so much.

Memorials may be directed to South Des Moines Lions Club, 635 Veterans Memorial Dr., Carlisle, IA 50047; Southgate Masonic Lodge, 1111 Randolph, Des Moines, IA 50315; or El Kahir Transportation Fund, 1400 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

Published May 7, 2012, in The Gazette