William “Bill” Morris Royer

January 17, 2025

 “The quickest way for anyone to reach the sun and the light of day is not to run west, chasing after the setting sun, but to head east, plunging into the darkness until one comes to the sunrise.” — Gerald L. Sittser

William “Bill” Morris Royer was born in Syracuse, Kansas on September 19, 1946 at the Donahue Memorial Hospital to Raymond Morris Royer and Laura Fern Patton Royer. He and his twin sister, Patricia Jane Royer, were raised by their mother and grandmother, Louise Patton. 

Bill was raised in the tight community of Syracuse with strong male role models like Boy Scout leader Les LaRosh and Henry Boltz who taught him to hunt and fish. Bill often joked how on his way home from school, his mother would receive a phone call regarding his behavior. By the time he got home, he was already in trouble. 

Bill was involved in many school sports and activities including football and Boy Scouts. He became an Eagle Scout, and graduated Syracuse High School in 1964. Eager to spread his wings, he left Syracuse to live life to the fullest. He first attended Southwestern College in Winfield, but graduated Stanford University with a Bachelor degree in Business in 1968. 

Bill joined the United States Marines after Stanford graduation, deployed to Vietnam, and retired as a Lt. Colonel after serving in the Reserves until Desert Storm in the 1990’s. Upon returning from Vietnam, he then received his MBA from Harvard University. He worked through the corporate banking structure for Citigroup from 1974 until he retired in 2007 as Vice President Managing Director of Global Finance where he traveled internationally, serving corporate accounts of Fortune 500 companies. 

Bill married Martha in 1996, both on Catalina Island in California so Martha’s elderly parents and family could attend, and at the First United Methodist Church in Syracuse, so Bill’s Kansas friends and family could celebrate the marriage with them.

Bill was industrious and diligent in all his endeavors including giving back. He was a member of The Club of 100 , the California Club, the Jonathan Club, and the Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. He volunteered in schools in East Los Angeles teaching life skills. One of his favorite teaching moments trying to keep the youth out of gangs was, “If you put a pot of lobsters on to boil, one lobster will try to climb out. The other lobsters will try to pull that ambitious lobster back in. Don’t let others pull you back down into their bad decisions or poor life choices.”

After retiring, he returned to his childhood home in Syracuse, Kansas, with his wife Martha (Mots) where he continued to serve his beloved community. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Syracuse, the Syracuse Masonic Lodge #309, a member of the VFW Post 7306, the American Legion Post 27, and the Hamilton County Veterans Memorial Organization. 

Bill spent his retirement years refining his skills as a professional photographer. His works were on display at The Main Artery in Ulysses, Kansas. He won first place at The Main Artery photography competition and was a finalist at the Hays Art Council, with his photograph, “The Loneliest Highway.” 

Bill passed away peacefully on January 16, 2025 at the Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Morris Royer and Laura Fern Patton Royer, and his twin sister, Patricia Jane Royer Popejoy and brother-in-law Jerald Raymond Popejoy.

He is survived by wife, Martha Royer; two stepsons Rick (Babette) Dixon of Topeka, Kansas and  Bob (Stephanie) Harrell of Oceanside, California; two granddaughters, Melia Ota and Gwendolyn Marie Harrell, and niece Bethanie Popejoy, Topeka,Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the VFW Post 7306, PO Box 415, Syracuse, Kansas, 67878 and the Syracuse United Methodist Church, PO Box 1409, Syracuse, Kansas, 67878. Please write William Royer Memorial in the memo line. 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Bill will continue to live in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.