Roylene Stewart

Roylene Stewart was born Roylene Willes on June 12, 1948 In Pocatello, Idaho. She passed away just under two months short of her 72nd birthday on April 25. 2020 at the Bridgeview Care center in Twin falls, Idaho. Death was, for her, a welcomed release from pain she had dealt with for about thirty-five years from progressively worsening arthritis. For the last ten years of her life she lived with constant severe pain in every joint of her body, with not being able to walk because of a hip surgery which went bad causing her to lose her hip joint, and numerous other complications as a result of the arthritis. Through all of this she was a light to all who knew her and leaves many friends in the community, and in the care center among staff and other patients. She loved doing handwork including cross stitch, bead work, knitting, and crochet, although at the end she was restricted to crochet which she could do by feel. Roylene’s parents, Walter LeRoy Willes and Una Mary Jenks preceded her in death, as did her three sisters Barbara, Janet, and Kaye. She was also predeceased by her adopted son Robert, a grandson, Draven, and her daughter’s (Heather) husband, Jan Palm. Roylene graduated Highland High School In 1966. She was always proud of being among the first class who had attended the new high school for all of their high school years. She then graduated from Idaho State University School of Cosmetology and worked as a beautician for several years. She was smitten from the first moment she met her future husband, Fred, when, being between jobs, she had the opportunity to join the ISU Concert Choir about four weeks before they went on their spring tour In 1969. They went out on their first date when Fred asked her to a Shakespeare play on campus soon after. She said she would love to go see it. She did not tell him that she had seen it the night before with another guy…until after they were married. Then on tour in Salt Lake City they walked to a stake center for a Saturday night dance, but Fred did not have on a tie and the dress standards at the time required a tie so they could not get in. Instead they strolled back to the motel through the grounds of the courthouse, where he kissed her for the first time. She said she was on cloud nine as they continued back to their rooms. Their romance progressed rapidly and they were married on November 1, 1969 in the Idaho Falls Temple. Roylene worked outside the home later in life for a time, before the arthritis totally disabled her, as a handicap assistant of the school bus in Meridian Idaho. But her most important job, to her, was as a mother, wife, and homemaker. She taught herself to cook, and found joy in baking bread, and numerous goodies for her family. Roylene and Fred adopted three children, Cristie, Robert, and Heather. Roylene is survived by her husband Fred, her daughter Cristie, Cristie’s husband Terry, her daughter Heather, her mother in law Carol, and six grandchildren. Due to circumstances beyond our control there will be only a graveside service attended by a small private group. A memorial service will be held at a date yet to be determined. Those who wish may share memories and condolences on her memorial page at www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com.