Roy Deem

(From Parker Mortuary)

Roy J. Deem, age 73 of Joplin, passed away at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at Landmark Hospital.

Born January 21, 1941 in Joplin, he was the son of the late Roy S. Deem and Mary Pauline Johnson Deem West and lived in Joplin and Carl Junction his lifetime. A 1958 graduate of Joplin High School, he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas University in 1962, where he was a member of Delta Chi Fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army and Missouri National Guard in the Finance Department achieving the rank of Captain.

Following his discharge from the service he worked for Empire District. In 1968 he and his wife opened Deem’s Grocery on Main Street in Carl Junction and in 1970 moved to its Pennell Street location. They owned and operated the grocery until 1984 and reopened it from 2003-2009. Since 1984 he was a Real Estate agent and broker working for Century 21, Pro 100 and Keller-Williams.

Roy was a former member of Joplin Jaycees, Rotary Club of Webb City and Carl Junction, Carl Junction Lions Club and Joplin Elk’s Lodge No. 501. He was a 15-year board member for Carl Junction Schools and served a term as President. He coached and served on the board of Carl Junction Youth Athletics, was a board member of Carl Junction Athletics Booster Club and served on the Steering Committee for MSSU Lionbackers. He was a member of the Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce.

On October 27, 1964 he married Susan O. Stanley in Joplin. She survives.

Additional survivors include three sons, Clay Deem of Carl Junction, Chris Deem and wife Rachel of Carl Junction, Brian Deem and wife Marilyn of Tallahassee, FL; a sister, Nancy Wise and her husband Ken of San Benito, TX; 15 grandchildren, Heather Thomas, Shonda Elick, Megan Johnson, Cortni, Chance, Logan, Alyssa, Bailey, Jordan, Hunter, Camryn, Riley, Noah Micah and Caleb Deem; two great-grandchildren, Cohen Elick and Beckham August.

In addition to his parents, Roy was preceded in death by his stepfather, Charles Cecil West and a brother, Charles Roger West.

Memorial services will be held 6:00 p.m. Wednesday at Jerry B. Stark Performing Arts Center at Carl Junction School with Rev. Bob Simon, Jeremy Evans and Jock Evans officiating. The family will receive friends in the school’s Commons Area following the service.

Graveside services with military honors will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Carl Junction Cemetery with Bob Hackney, Skip Walker, Tré Hall, Troy Ketchum, Curtis Ware and Mike Wardlow serving as pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made to MSSU Lionbackers or Carl Junction Educational Foundation.