Royce Lewis Lawyer

Royce Lewis Lawyer was born on July 20, 1966, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Robert Lewis Lawyer (deceased) and Bonnie Joyce Young.

Royce grew up in Kelso, Washington, where he attended Beacon Hill Elementary, Huntington Junior High School, and Kelso High School, graduating in 1984. During his high school years, he worked as a busboy at The Carriage Restaurant, a job he remembered fondly. He loved sharing stories about the "regulars" who came in, and these moments shaped his lifelong appreciation for people and their stories.

After high school, Royce discovered he had a remarkable gift for seeing potential in both people and things. He could spot hidden value where others often overlooked it. This talent sparked his passion for running thrift stores, beginning with his first shop, a two-story store called The Browser in downtown Longview, Washington. Over the years, he continued this work, eventually running a small store in Toledo, Washington, simply called "Royce's."

An entrepreneur at heart, Royce turned every venture into an adventure. He enjoyed bidding on storage lockers, transforming the contents into playful "storage wars" with neighbors. For him, it wasn't about the profit—it was about the thrill of the hunt and the joy of giving. More often than not, he gave most of the items away for free, believing that someone else could use them more than he could. His hustle was matched only by his generosity.

Royce had a heart of gold, and that showed in every job he ever held. While managing the Bridgegate Apartments in Longview, he would buy Christmas gifts for every child living there, ensuring each one felt seen and cared for. Helping others wasn't just something Royce did—it was who he was. Royce lived with a genuine sense of mission and a deep calling to care for people. His kindness, open heart, and compassion left a lasting mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Royce went into the arms of Jesus when he passed away unexpectedly on November 15, 2025, just five days after receiving a metastatic cancer diagnosis at Southwest Washington Medical Center.

Royce leaves behind many who loved him deeply, including his mother, Bonnie Joyce Young; his stepmother, Gay Lawyer; his sisters, Doris (Dan) Brady, Tonya Heredia, and Marinda (Doug) Thayer; his stepbrothers, Bart and Shane Adcock; his aunt, Leslie Cox (Carson); his son, Justin Lawyer; his daughter, Kelly Lawyer; and his beloved dogs, Ruby and Ramses. He will also be dearly missed by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, all of whom held a special place in his heart.

He is reunited in passing with his father, Robert Lewis Lawyer, and his older brother, Robert L. Lawyer, who went before him.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life on December 7, 2025, at 2 p.m. at his home, 193 Drews Prairie Road, Toledo, WA. Dress warm and bring a lawn chair. We will gather on the land Royce poured his heart, sweat, and spirit into. Through his hard work, creativity, and determination, he shaped this place into more than a home. It stands as a gathering ground for generations to come, a piece of earth where love endures and where his presence will always be felt.

May we come together in gratitude and remembrance, honoring a man who cared deeply for people and created a place where family and friends could always find each other and feel at home.