Royce Melvin Dean

Royce Melvin Dean, 90, of El Dorado passed away Friday, May 25, 2012 at Timberlane Health & Rehab. He was born March 6, 1922 in Traskwood, Ark. to Cornice Leonard Dean and Mary Florence Anderson Dean. Before retiring, Royce worked as a chemical operator in maintenance for Monsanto Chemical before transferring to Lion Oil Refinery. He was a WWII U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran and a long time scout master for Troop 17 of First United Methodist Church. He loved to hunt, fish, golf, work in the yard, garden and cook for others. He was a member of the First Baptist Church Primetimers. Royce was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Preceding him in death are his parents. Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Norma Rose Dean of El Dorado; a son, David Melvin Dean, M.D. and his wife Renay of Little Rock, Ark.; two granddaughters, Rachael Dean of Washington, D.C. and Jessica Rutherford and her husband Blake of Little Rock, Ark.; special nieces, Gayle Burbank of El Dorado, Letha Patterson of Hazard, Ky. and Suzy Vittitow of Elizabethtown, Ky.; a brother-in-law, W.L. Robinson of Wichita, Kan., and numerous other nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27, 2012 at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Jim Polk officiating. Burial will follow at Arlington Memorial Park under the direction of Young's Funeral Directors. Visitation will be held 1-2 p.m. Sunday at the church prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the DeSoto Area Council Boy Scouts of America, 118 West Peach, El Dorado, Arkansas 71730, Interfaith Health Services 512 Champagnolle Road., El Dorado, Ark. 71730 or First United Methodist Church, 201 South Hill, El Dorado, Ark. 71730. An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.