Royce was born on June 8, 1939 to the late Garland and Eva (May) Newsom in Lubbock. He was in the first graduating class from Monterey High School. He served two years in the Army reserves and graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management with a minor in accounting, while also working in his family business. On June 23, 1962 he married the love of his life, Mary Jo Garrett in Houston. In 1966, Royce established Venetian Marble in Lubbock and in 1980, he established a second company, Ortega Kitchen and Bath. The work of his company has won numerous awards over the years including the International Cast Polymer Association Manufacturer of the Decade in 2001, Composite Manufacturing Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 and the Leadership Excellence Award in 2013. Royce was a member of First Baptist Church. He had a passion for studying God’s word and ministering to others. In addition, he enjoyed snow skiing and watching baseball. Anyone that knew Royce knew that he enjoyed any kind of project. He had a desire to learn something new all the time and to encourage those around him. Most importantly was the time that he spent with his family. He will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bobby Newsom, and a granddaughter, Mallory May Marshall. Royce is survived by his loving wife, Mary Jo Newsom, three children, Nathalee (Tommy) Lowrie of Lubbock, DeNay (Brad) Marshall of Cleburne and Garrett (Laura) Newsom of Lubbock; nine grandchildren, Bethany Lowrie, Caleb Lowrie, Maryhannah Lowrie, Levi Lowrie, Morgan Marshall, Maggie Marshall, Marlie Marshall, Garrett Finn Newsom, and Caudry Virginia Newsom and a sister, Janice (Jim) Tapp. A tax-deductible gift can be given to the Royce Newsom Memorial Fund within Campus Crusade for Christ. Online gifts can be made at give.cru.org/0896398 and checks made payable to Cru along with a note stating “Royce Newsom Memorial Fund: 0896398” can be mailed to: Cru Dept. 2400, 100 Lake Hart Dr., Orlando, FL 32832. A special thank you to Dr. Close and staff, Terrie Klein and the Palliative care team and Accolade Home Health and Hospice for all your care of Royce in these past months.
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