Patricia Royer, 97

July 11, 2022

Patricia Ann Thomas Royer, 97, of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully on Monday, July 11, 2022. She was married to Alan Fleck Royer (1924-2018) for seventy-one years.

Born August 30, 1924 in Harrisburg to Kenneth S. Thomas and Kathryn Breckenridge Thomas, Mrs. Royer was the oldest child with three younger sisters: Kathryn Daugherty, Sally Blair, and Caroline Rhodes. As children, the family resided first in Camp Hill and then in Dauphin. Pat was a graduate of John Harris High School, and following graduation worked in the Pennsylvania State Health Department.

After the Second World War she met and married Alan F. Royer, beginning their long life together. As a couple, they raised three children: Rebecca L. Royer, A. Todd Royer, and Mark B. Royer. The middle years of Pat’s marriage were filled with all the fun and minutiae of being a 1950s housewife and mother. By the late-1960s, Pat returned to work in NJ, first as an independent product inspector, next as an office manager at Singer Sewing Machines, and finally as a supervisor for a bank in Elizabeth, NJ.

Although Pat and Alan lived in several different states throughout their working lives (NY, IL, NJ), they retired back to Lancaster County Pa. There, Pat volunteered with the Duke Street Library, was a docent at the Lancaster Historical Society, and was active with the Iris Club.

Throughout their lives they never lost touch of their many dear friends from Harrisburg, with whom they shared trips abroad, biking and skiing outings, and vacations to Stone Harbor and Cape May, NJ, well into their 80’s. In between those trips, they took their grandchildren on many excellent adventures.

Patricia Thomas Royer is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Michaelson (Peter), sons, Todd Royer (Lorette Pruden), Mark Royer (Marla Pruden-Royer), grandchildren Zachary Michaelson, Avery Michaelson, (Todd’s children) Sebastian Royer (Laurel Preschutti), Annabelle Grace Royer (fiancé Ben Carignan), (Mark’s children) Destin Royer, Rachael Royer, two great-grandchildren, Trent and Sydney Michaelson, sister Kathryn Thomas Daugherty, sister-in-law, Anna Royer, sister-in-law, Margaret Royer Billman and husband, John Billman.

Pat was strong in navigating life’s challenges and joyful in embracing family and friends. She remains loved by her family and will be missed.