Roy Healy

HEALY, ROY WILLIAM Richland, MI A loving Husband, Father and Pop, Roy, age 85, died Wednesday afternoon, July 6, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo following a brief illness. Roy, the son of Sidney and Ruby (Monaghan) Healy, was born in Montgomery, IN and moved to this area in 1948. He was an outstanding basketball player in High School and it continued at Western Michigan University, where he was the first Sophomore to be named Captain of the team and led them to their first ever Mid-American Conference Title. Roy lettered three years with the Broncos and was a member of its W Club. While at Western, he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree and became a teacher at Kellogg School, the forerunner of Gull Lake High School. Roy began coaching basketball in 1954 and started teaching in 1955 and retired after 32 years of faithful service in 1986. He was also inducted into the Gull Lake Hall of Fame in 2004. Roy served his Country honorably and nobly during the Korean War, as a paratrooper, Private First Class with Company A, 76th Tank Battalion. He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church of Augusta, MI. Roy enjoyed gardening, manicuring his lawn with his Zero-Turn mower, had been known to be "Gone Fishing" numerous times and was the consummate Handy-Man. He was a quiet, gentle, kind man, and on the rare occasions when he spoke, it was usually impactful and always witty and full of humor. Roy married the "Love of his Life," Carol Ann (nee: Wrench) at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Kalamazoo on June 13, 1959. Surviving is his wife of 57 years, Carol; two daughters, Deborah R. "Debbie" (Paul) Punnett of Richland and Cynthia M. "Cindy" Healy of Taylor, TX; his son, Daniel P. "Dan" (Amanda Sanders) Healy of Louisville, KY; his grandson, Eric A. Punnett, a sister, Hedy (Dave) Herron of Fairland, IN and two brothers, Louie Healy of Monroe, WI and Frank Healy of Universal, TX. Roy was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Rose and Alice Healy and a brother, Bud Healy. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 11th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church, 12648 East D Avenue, Augusta, MI 49012, with Father Christopher J. Derda, Celebrant and Deacon Michael A. Carl, Assisting. Family and friends will continue Roy's life celebration with a time of fellowship and a luncheon immediately following the Mass. Roy's family will greet friends Sunday, July 10th from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 9170 East D Avenue (M-89), where the Parish Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. Final interment will be in Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta with the United States Army Honor Guard and the Fort Custer Honor Guard bestowing full military honors. Memorial contributions in Roy's honor may be directed to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association . Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Roy may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.