Roy Burton Stephen McLaren

He passed away peacefully on September 24, 2022. He will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather and friend.

Roy is survived by his children, Christel Covert (Paul), Steve McLaren (Joyce), Teresa Franco, Dena Miller (Mike), Dawn Sewell, and his granddaughter, Ashley Hares, whom he helped raise; 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Preceding Roy in death was his wife of 15 years, Dolores (Ducky) Ann Frerich McLaren, his wife of 51 years, Patricia (Patti) Ann Shields McLaren, his parents, and his great-granddaughter, Everleigh Marie.

Roy enlisted in the U. S. Army after graduating from Havre High School. He graduated from Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington where he majored in accounting and minored in economics and philosophy. While attending Gonzaga he was an ROTC Distinguished Military Student and received his commission as a U.S. Army Infantry Officer. As a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, Roy was a teaching assistant. He attended Law School at the University of Arizona and many professional schools in insurance, taxes, real estate and securities.

Roy was a tax and audit supervisor with Ernst and Ernst (now Ernst and Young). In 1971 Roy established his own CPA financial services firm in Tempe, Arizona. Roy was the founder and managing partner of The CPAs of Arizona, LLC which was an alliance of CPA financial services professionals. He was most proud of having challenged the establishment and creating a path for Arizona CPAs to practice financial planning in a manner most suited for their client. Roy was a serial entrepreneur throughout his career.

Roy’s mother called him Buster and high school friends called him Mac. He enjoyed traveling, playing poker, riding his bike, living on a lake, dancing and a good meal. His favorite snacks consisted of oreos, almond joys, apple pie, milkshakes, almond roca, and almost anything sweet. He loved one Corona in the afternoon, it always put a smile on his face. He will be greatly missed.