LeeRoy Lance Sr.

LeeRoy Lance, Sr. was born February 27, 1931 in Refugio, Texas, and went to be with his Father in Heaven on the morning of March 12, 2016 following a lengthy illness. He was 85 years and 14 days old. LeeRoy and his twin sister, Lillian, were the youngest of seven children born to William

Cleo and Myrtle Louis (Coward) Lance. Over the years, their family lived in Refugio, Seadrift and Galveston, finally settling in Corpus Christi. He attended Corpus Christi High School (now Roy Miller HS) where met the love of his life Bettiejo Holtzclaw. They graduated in the Class of 1949 and were

married on January 22, 1950. LeeRoy worked at Central Power & Light Co. and enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve, achieving the

rank of Seaman and was rated as an Instrumentman, training that would become the basis for his career in the petrochemical industry. He went on to work at PPG Refinery, Coastal States Petrochemical, and UNI Oil Co. becoming a Master Instrument Technician He would eventually own his own company – Lance

Industrial Control – in Corpus Christi. Upon retirement, he purchased property near Pettus and enjoyed “working the land” and raising cattle until his health diminished his ability to do the necessary work required of the “ranch”. He was active in a variety of organizations throughout his lifetime. He was Assistant Scout-Master in the Mid-50’s. He joined the Masons (attaining 32nd degree in both the Blue and the York Rite Lodges); and later

went on to join the Alzafar Shrine Temple and transferred to the newly formed Al Amin Shrine Temple as a charter member where he was Colonel of the Motor Patrol – his love for motorcycles was evident during those years. He was inducted into the Knights Templar in recognition for his overall achievements. Along with Bettiejo, he was also a member of the Eastern Star. Recently, he became a member of the sons of Confederate Veterans – his mother’s two great grandfathers were members of the Magnolia Rangers (aka 1st Brigade, Texas Cavalry from Galveston – a unit that included

12 other family members and had the distinction of forming prior to Texas actually seceding from the Union – they would help liberate Fort Brown in Brownsville and provide protection from Indian and Union Raiders in outlying villages and ranched throughout Texas.LeeRoy enjoyed life, especially fishing, hunting, motorcycle riding, raising fruit trees and playing dominoes. In fact, he was known to play 42, Moon, and more recently playing Mexican Train with Bettiejo and a group of couples on a weekly basis. But, with all that he did, he never forgot his Lord. He has been a longtime Deacon at the Calvary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Kenny Eiben. LeeRoy contributed much to the upkeep and operation of the church and its building over the years.

He will be sorely missed within the congregation. LeeRoy is preceded in death his parents, William Cleo “Bill” and Myrtle Louis (Coward) Lance as well as

his elder sister Mary Lee Tomlinson, and his four brothers, William E. “Billy”, Leonard, J.R. and Earl Lance.

He is survived by his wife Bettiejo; his twin sister, Lillian Lee (Donald A.) Grant of Robstown; children, LeeRoy, Jr., (Linda Miller) Lance of Bryan, Texas, Jeanette Ann (Rodney) Keen of Needville, Texas, Jim Myron (Helen Pollard) Lance of Corpus Christi, Texas. Also surviving him are 3 grandsons,

David (Amanda Wales) Lance of Spring, Texas, Michael (Marriah Mickan) Lance of Manchaca, Texas and Rex Conrad Keen of Austin, Texas; 3 great-grandchildren, Amelia, Kyle and McKenzie Lance; and many beloved nieces and nephews and their children.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 15, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m at Cage-Mills Funeral Directors Chapel. Services will be at Cage Mills Funeral Directors at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2016; Reverend Kenny Eiben officiating. Interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers may be made to Calvary Baptist Church or the charity of your choice.