Mettie Gay Royal

On the afternoon of September 13th, Mettie Gay Royal passed away peacefully of natural causes at the age of 96. She was being comforted by her family at Cornerstone Hospice in Tavares, Florida at the time of her passing.

Born on November 2, 1918 in Floyd, Virginia, she was one of ten children to John and Ella Mae Lester. Her siblings were Lela Wanda, John Davis, Ruby Ephel, Francis Ray, Ada Ellen, Mary Lucille, Annie Mae, Hosea Elvin, and Otto Dempsey.

Married to the late Walter William Royal, Mettie Gay was a long time resident of Christiansburg, Virginia, where she worked at the Farm House and Sam Moore Chair Factory. She enjoyed reading her Bible, taking walks, baking her famous German chocolate cakes, and completing word search puzzles. Watching Billy Graham and attending Northland Church while visiting her daughter and son-in-law in Florida, were some of her favorite things to do. Mettie Gay was devoted to the Lord our God and was a selfless, compassionate and kind woman whose smile lit up a room.

She is survived by her beloved sister, Ada Ellen Lester Altizer, her loving daughter Marlene Willey and son-in-law Charles Willey III, her loving son Ray Royal, her grandchildren: Tim Royal, Chasity Willey, Kristin Wilson, Brittany Willey and great-grandchildren: Joshua Royal and Hailey Wilson.

Horne Funeral Home will be conducting services at 1300 N Franklin St, Christiansburg. The viewing will be this Sunday, September 20th from 5:00-8:00 pm and Funeral service will follow on Monday, September 21st at 11:00 a.m. Mettie Gay will be laid to rest at Sunset Cemetery at 501 South Franklin Street Christiansburg, Virginia. Memorial gifts may be made to Saint Paul’s Methodist Church located at 220 W Main St, Christiansburg, Virginia.