Dawn Elizabeth Royal

Dawn was born on November 12, 1964 in Detroit, Michigan to Donald and Diana Balmforth. She had three brothers: Philip, John, and Mike. Dawn grew up in Livonia, Michigan. She received both her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Master’s Degree in Applied Social Research from the University of Michigan. Dawn began her very successful 31-year career at Gallup in July of 1990.

She was a well-respected Senior Methodologist at Gallup, known as a “relentless expert and demanding perfectionist.” She was described as “one of the funniest, kindest, and toughest people we ever met.”

Gallup is also where she met the love of her life, Ken Royal. Dawn and Ken were married May 1, 1999 in Michigan. Dawn and Ken have been married for 22 wonderful years. They welcomed their first child, a son, Alex, on February 3rd, 2000 and their daughter, Isabel, on February 20th, 2002.

The Royals spent the first ten years of their marriage living in Brighton, Michigan and then moved to San Clemente, California in 2009. They enjoyed spending summers at their lakehouse in Brighton.

Dawn loved to gather and loved to be with people. She was always organizing something, whether a pool party at their home in San Clemente or the annual Cousins’ Party at their place on Woodland Lake in Michigan.

Dawn is survived by her husband, Ken, her son, Alex, her daughter, Isabel, her mother, Diana, and her three brothers: Philip (wife Phyllis), John, and Mike (wife Helen). Countless aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and friends adored her. She is preceded in death by her father, Donald.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to benefit sarcoma cancer research be made to The Aveni Foundation at Avenifoundation.org/donate.