Grace Wesley Roy

Grace Wesley Roy, the woman who could charm the keys off a piano and the stripes off a drum major's uniform, has taken her final bow on this stage we call life. Born in the scenic hills of Black Mountain, NC, on October 6, 1920, Grace pirouetted into the world with a smile that could light up the darkest room. She departed on August 8, 2025, in Tahlequah, OK, at the impressive age of 104, leaving behind a legacy as vibrant as her personality.

The daughter of Emile and Margaret Wesley, Grace was the kind of person who could find humor in the mundane and turn a simple coffee klatch into a rollicking good time. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 40 years, Gordon Roy, who no doubt was waiting with open arms and a dance card with her name on it. Her life was a tapestry of love and laughter, woven through with the threads of her daughter Marjorie Smith and her husband William, and her son Fred Reynolds.

Grace's spirit lives on through her grandsons Mat Smith and his wife Zara of Federal Way, WA, and Bryon Smith and his wife Tina of Tahlequah, OK. Her great-granddaughter Jordan Churchill, along with her husband Ryan, and great-grandson Braeden Smith, both of Tahlequah, OK, will carry on her zest for life. And let's not forget the newest additions to the family, her great-great-granddaughters Winslow and Archer Churchill, who at the tender ages of 4 years and 1 month, have already inherited their great-great-grandma's flair for the dramatic.

A proud graduate of Clarion High School in 1938, Grace went on to dazzle with her secretarial skills after graduating from Hoff Business College. Her career was as varied as her interests, from working for an attorney in Warren, PA, to juggling responsibilities at Knox Glass in Marienville, PA. She even braved the wilds of New Jersey to work for Metro Glass Company before returning to Knox Glass, where she married Irel Reynolds and had her two children.

After her divorce, Grace didn't miss a beat. She worked for the U.S. Forest Department, where she met her dashing forest ranger, Gordon Roy. Together, they ventured to Rapid River, MI, and finally settled in Escanaba, MI. There, Grace served as the secretary for a judge in the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, proving that behind every successful judge, there's a woman rolling her eyes.

Grace's life was not without adventure. In 1933, during a family visit to Germany, she was arrested for not saluting Adolf Hitler during a parade. Ever the quick thinker, she feigned ignorance by pretending not to speak or understand German, leading to her release as an "ignorant American." Her family, recognizing the brewing storm in Germany, whisked her back to the safety of the United States. Grace's family endured the horrors of the Nazi regime, with many persecuted and some losing their lives in concentration camps. This dark chapter only strengthened her resolve to live a life full of love and laughter.

A Christian by faith, Grace's spirit was as infectious as her laugh. She was the drum major in her high school band, played the accordion and piano for town events, and enjoyed endless hours of conversation with friends and family. Even in her final days, she never missed her pampering sessions at the beauty salon, proving that style knows no age.

Grace was loving, funny, and interesting—a true original. Her stories were as captivating as her accordion solos, and her laughter was a melody that will echo in the hearts of those who knew her. So here's to Grace Wesley Roy, the woman who lived life to the fullest, played every note with gusto, and marched to the beat of her own drum. Curtain down, applause up, and take a bow, Grace. You've earned it.

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