Royce Grissom

On June 21, 1952 in Artesia, New Mexico, Royce Lane Grissom stepped up to the first tee box with a smile on his face and a driver in his hand and on May 2, 2022 he dropped a 30-foot double-break putt for eagle and headed to the Great Clubhouse in the sky.

Royce was the third member of a foursome coached by Herman and Mardee Grissom which already included brothers Larry and Don and a few years later would see Chip added to round out the team. As Royce readied for 8th grade the family moved from Artesia to Bovina, TX. Here he would encounter that special lady who would become his caddy and partner for the rest of his life.

While in high school Royce played on the baseball team as well as playing drums in marching and concert band. He would enjoy drumming throughout his life, jamming in the garage or playing for various churches, always managing to sneak a little bit of “Wipeout” into whatever he was playing.

After graduating from Bovina High School Royce attended South Plains Junior College (now South Plains College) and West Texas State College (now West Texas A&M University). On April 1, 1972 (a date chosen so that Royce would have no trouble remembering his anniversary), Royce married his life-partner, Karen Ann Bell, in Bovina. For the next 50 years they enjoyed playing a variety of courses including gardening, church activities, listening to music together, and especially camping. They put together their own foursome with the arrival of Caprice in 1973 while living in Lubbock and Denver Cody in 1977, also born in Lubbock but with the family living back in Bovina.

The front nine of Royce’s work life included a variety of jobs including work for a crop-dusting service, an appliance store, contract work for the BLM and Forest Service, as well as managing the automotive shop for Montgomery Ward in Montrose. His vocational back nine began when he and Karen started the work he was most proud of, a brochure distribution company called Brochure Express. Royce threw himself into all aspects of the business from making phone calls and knocking on doors to develop clients all the way to custom-building every rack to be placed in participating businesses. Added to all of this were weekly trips from Glenwood Springs and Carbondale to Montrose and Grand Junction to service the brochure racks. Indicative of Royce’s warm and outgoing personality was the many friends he and Karen made among the business owners who utilized the services of Brochure Express.

Royce appreciated many things in life; a well-struck drive and a well-read green; a medium-rare steak and a quality whiskey; a shaded campsite with a morning cup of coffee; a fly rod in his hand and a mountain stream teeming with trout. But most important to him, and this is 100% true and not a platitude, were his wife and children, God, and the United States of America. All of these nurtured and shaped him and created the man we celebrate.

Royce was preceded in death by his parents and eldest brother Larry. He is survived by his wife Karen, daughter Caprice and son Denver Cody, grandson Shandon, and brothers Don and Chip.

A service of remembrance will be held June 2, 2022, 5 pm at Adobe Creek Golf Course (876 18 1/2 Rd, Fruita, CO) with a time following for drinks, golf words, and stories.