Royce Lee Ezell

Royce Lee Ezell

Memorial service for Royce Lee Ezell of Durant, MS will be held Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the College Park United Methodist Church on Highway 19th North in Meridian, MS with Bro. Joe Reynolds presiding.  We welcome all that would like to come and celebrate this wonderful man's life.  He would hope that you come away with great memories and being blessed. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Royce Lee Ezell was born on December 9, 1937 on B Street in Meridian, MS to George Kelly Ezell and Addie Reeves Ezell Ward.  Growing up in Meridian he graduated from Meridian High School and later joined the Navy where he was a loadmaster with MATS.  When he returned to Meridian in 1963 he joined and became an eternal and vital member of the Oakland Heights Methodist Church family. He met the love of his life and his future wife, Mary Ann Scott, there and they married in 1964.

He was a wonderful provider, working at the Naheola paper mill at Pennington, AL for almost 35 years. He was a loving and caring father to his two children and a wonderful husband to his wife, all of whom he loved unconditionally. As a grandparent, his grandchildren soon became the “apple of his eye”, because he was just a kid who refused to grow up.

He left Meridian for only the second time in his life when he retired and moved to

Durant/Kosciusko area; but for Royce Lee Ezell, Meridian was and will always remain his home. For over 51 years he and Mary Ann traveled the wonderful journey known as life together. They supported each other, and loved the other without reservation. Royce could often be heard saying to people, “It takes the two of us to make a whole.”

Royce went home to be with those who had gone before on April 8, 2016. He left behind his wife, Mary Ann Ezell; his son Lee Ezell (Christa) of Quitman; his daughter Suzy Ezell Lambert (Hank) of Stafford, Missouri; five grandchildren Rachel Vossler of Jacksonville, FL; Daniel Vossler of Pullman, WA; John Corey Lambert (Brianna) of Wiggins, MS; and Julian and Erin Perkins of Quitman, MS; a brother Bill Ezell (Doloris) of Dalewood; a sister Ann Lewis (Carroll) of Chattanooga, TN; and a number of nieces, nephews and close cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father as listed above; a sister Imo Jewel Ezell and a brother, Rudolph Ezell and Rudolph's wife Billie Jean.

He loved animals and throughout his wondrous life, he owned so many that he nurtured and loved with all his heart. Family and pets are rejoicing at being reunited with Royce.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to Blair Batson Children’s Hospital, Wounded Warriors Project, or College Park United Methodist Church.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.

He will be missed by all that knew him for he was such a gentle loving soul.

Visitation will be held Saturday, April 16, 2016 from 11:30-1:00p.m. at the church.