William G. Royce (Bill, Billy, Grampy, B-Buck) passed away at Tufts Medical Center in Boston MA on Tuesday, February 15th at the age of 57.
Bill is survived by his life partner of 13 years, Cindy Couitt, and their shared children: Andrea and Joshua Stocker, Michael Cunningham and his wife Melissa, and Jessica Stevens. His grandchildren: Ella, Noah, Cora, Zeke, and Ezra Stocker, Logan Cormier, Mikey and Evelyn Cunningham, Quinton and Victoria Cloutier; all of NH. His siblings: Russell Royce and wife Kathi of Holly Hill, FL, Jerry Royce and wife Pam of Hereford, AZ, Richard E. Royce and wife Janet of Windsor, VT, Richard A. Royce and wife Kay of GA, David Royce and wife Candy of Claremont, NH, Donna Green and husband Raymond of Springfield, VA, Bonnie Granger and husband Jim of Easley, SC, Betty Fisher and husband Dave of Newport News, VA, Nancy J. Clayton of Lempster, NH, Tom and Tina LaClair of Charleston, NH. As well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Bill is preceded in death by his mother Rachel Royce, 1998, of Claremont, NH, his brother in-law Ralph E. Clayton Sr., 2011, of Lempster, NH, His father Elwin Royce, 2014, of Claremont, NH.
Bill was born on October 23, 1964 to foster parents, Elwin and Rachel Royce of Claremont, NH; who then adopted him on August 14, 1970. He graduated from Stevens High School in 1983. He worked for Sturm Ruger & Co. until the Sunapee School district found him in 2001, where he remained for 20+ years.
Aside from his custodial duties, Mr. Royce was always available for the students during events like field day, Nature’s classroom, yearly yard sale and winter activities; along with greeting students and providing rewards for those who earned them during the school day. He also devoted many hours to supporting and coaching the Sunapee athletic teams. Bill was nominated and named NH Southwest Region Champion for Children in 2020.
Anyone who knew Bill, knew he was an avid outdoorsman. He favored his time in the woods: hunting, hiking, scouting, and collecting sheds. Bill often shared his passions, skills and knowledge with his grandchildren, friends or strangers he encountered. Throughout the years he donated to and attended local wild game dinners. Mr. Royce could also be found volunteering at various school districts sharing the New Hampshire Fish and Game pelt kit with students as well as his extensive expertise of the outdoors.
During his off time, Bill enjoyed trips to Foxwoods with Cindy, camping trips to Maine with their children and grandchildren, gathering with family; including hunting with his brothers, Dave and Richard, and playing card games such as solitaire, mahjong and poker.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either:
Sunapee PTA
Sunapee Central Elementary School
22 School St.
Sunapee, NH 03782
Sunapee Booster Club
10 North Rd.
Sunapee, NH 03782
The Dash Poem (By Linda Ellis)
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning...to the end
He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth
For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
Dedication to Bill Royce
From his loving siblings, life partner, extended family, friends and all whose lives he touched.
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