Arthur Lee Royston, Sr.

Arthur Lee "Easy" Royston, Sr., age 91, of Little Rock, died Tuesday, April 19,2011, at Presbyterian Village in Little Rock. Born March 22,1920, in Pine Bluff, he was the son of the late Frank Lee and Inez Thompson Royston. Mr. Royston graduated from Pine Bluff High School and attended the University of Arkansas. He married Frances Overton on May 8, 1943. He served in the Army, at both Camp Robinson and Fort Chaffee as a Tech Sergeant. He loved to tell the story of why he fought the Battle of Arkansas - there were no combat boots to fit his size 13AAA feet! Arthur was given the nickname "Easy" by his company commander after witnessing him disciplining a recruit. The commander said "From now on you should be called "Sgt. Easy." After serving in the Army, he and Frances bought a farm outside Pine Bluff. They raised chickens for the Darragh Company, for whom he eventually became a field representative, working his way up to Vice President in Little Rock. He retired in 1981 after 19 years of service. He served as President of the Arkansas Egg Council and was active in the Arkansas Poultry Foundation. He and Frances attended three World Poultry Congresses in New Orleans, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro. He and Frances bought their first RV in 1973. They traveled to forty-nine states and every Canadian Province except Newfoundland. They made the first of their 5 RV trips to Alaska in 1985. His favorite summertime fishing was on the banks of the Kenai River catching sockeye salmon at a spot known as "The Tiger Hole." He and Frances spent their winters catching slab crappie on Lake Okeechobee. Mr. Royston was a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff and Westover Hills Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. He has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock since 1975. He was a member of the Davis Hunting Club, The National Rifle Association, and served on the Faulkner County Public Facilities Board. Mr. Royston is survived by his wife of sixty eight years, Frances Overton Royston; one son, Arthur Jr. and wife, Chris, of Harrison; daughter, Sharon and husband, Edwin Hankins Ill of Mayflower; grandchildren, Jennifer Hankins Slump and husband, Steve, of Kansas City; Amy Hankins Blanz and husband, Jeb, of Fayetteville; Edwin Hankins IV and wife, Christin, of Little Rock; and Neil Royston of Harrison; great-grandchildren: Joseph, Hannah and Mathew Slump of Kansas City; Evan Blanz of Fayetteville and Caroline Hankins of Little Rock. He also has dear friends from Florida to Alaska. Services Saturday, April 23, 2011, at 2 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, by Ralph Robinson &Son Funeral Directors, with Reverend Dr. Karen Akin and Reverend Steve Hancock officiating. Memorials to Second Presbyterian Church Adult Choir, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72227 or First United Methodist Church Family Life Center, 1100 West Bower, Harrison, Arkansas 72601. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.