Anne Marie Roy

Annemarie Roy, 86, was born in Mainz, Germany, on June 3, 1938. She was the only child of a wonderful mother, Anna Therese Schramm, who valued education and made sure her daughter went to a school that provided the best education. Annemarie attended and graduated from the prestigious Catholic all-girls school, Maria Ward Institute in Mainz where through her hard work and determination was an above average student excelling in German, French, Latin, English, history, philosophy, physical education and religion, so much so that the Mother Superior asked if she was interested in becoming a nun. Wanting 12 children and a family, she kindly refused. She attended Mainz University and then finished her degree to become an elementary school teacher at the Teachers’ College where she earned the equivalent of a master’s degree in education. She taught a combined 4th and 5th grade class for 5 years, often telling us with amazement that she had 55 children in her classes.

In 1963 she met Jess Lee Roy on a blind date and married him a year later. She was a military wife for 13 years moving many times from Germany to Georgia to Virginia and then to Arkansas while her husband served two tours in Vietnam, all the while raising her children with love and laughter, singing and conversations and outings to zoos, nature walks and parks. In the summer, all bodies of water were an opportunity for her and her children to swim be it a lake, pool, creek, river or tank! She always took the time to explain and answer her children’s questions thoroughly and succinctly. She poured all her knowledge into her children and valued education and her Catholic faith above all things. She was knowledgeable in many topics including religion, history, western civilization, Latin, and philosophy. Her breadth of knowledge amazed her children and continued to surprise them in adulthood. She was their own personal Google before there was such a thing. Annemarie made her children feel loved and safe and protected. She wanted her children to have the same Catholic education she had, so she enrolled them in Immaculate Conception where they all attended through 9th grade. Annemarie and Jess Lee had three children together, Jess Thomas Roy born in Columbus, Georgia; Petra Therese (Roy) Adair, born in Wiesbaden, Germany; and Mark Christopher Roy, born in Fort Smith, Arkansas. After 20 years of military life, she and her husband retired to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where they finished raising their 3 children alongside Annemarie’s mother, who always lived with them. In 1998 she and Jess Lee moved to Tulsa to be close to family. She enjoyed watching her Oklahoma grandchildren and participating in their lives. She and Jess Lee looked forward to serving breakfast to their son, Jess, every morning before work and spending time with their grandchildren after school. On weekends they were invited to any and every activity in which the Oklahoma Roys participated thanks to their daughter-in-law, Leigh, as well as going on many family vacations with them. Annemarie also took every opportunity to visit her son, Mark, and her daughter, Petra, in Texas and spending time with her 8 other grandchildren. Although she did not live close to her daughter and son in Texas, they spoke on the phone often and Annemarie was given detailed information about themselves and her grandchildren’s lives. While visiting Petra she went to every meeting, group, happy hour or activity that was on Petra’s calendar. In this way, she knew all of Petra’s friends and acquaintances and knew of their lives and children. Petra and Mark made the drive to Oklahoma often ensuring that their children know their grandparents and become best friends with their cousins. Annemarie was Petra’s mentor, spiritual advisor, confidant, mother and best friend.

Annemarie did not know a stranger. Through her strong German accent, her infectious smile and open personality, people were drawn to her and loved her stories and her insights, which she was always happy to share. She loved God, good conversation and her family with her whole heart. She always put the needs of others around her before her own.

Annemarie was married to Jess Lee for 56 years until his passing in 2020. She lived with her son, Jess, until March of this year when she moved to Texas. She died peacefully on Friday, June 28 in Coppell, Texas with her daughter, Petra, by her side holding her in her arms. Annemarie was proceeded in death by her husband, Jess Lee Roy and her mother Anna Therese Schramm. She is survived by her children, Jess (Leigh) Roy, Petra (Mark) Adair, Mark (Andrea) Roy, and 12 grandchildren: Annabelle U. (Sam Jordan) Ackling, Isabella Marie Roy, Jess William Roy, George Roy Ackling, Juliet Leigh (Modesto) Garcia, Penelope Therese Ackling, Christopher Thomas Roy, Zane Thomas Roy, Andrew Markus Roy, Grayson Foster (Katy Henderson) Adair, Aubrey Leigh Adair and Gabriella Elizabeth Adair. Annemarie will be buried with her husband in a dual ceremony in the national cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

A visitation for AnneMarie will be held Thursday, July 11, 2024 5:00 pm; Program to begin a 6:00 pm with a Rosary to follow at Rolling Oaks Funeral Home, 400 Freeport Parkway, Coppell, TX 75019. A funeral mass will occur Friday, July 12, 2024 at 10:00 AM at St. Ann Parish, 180 Samuel Blvd, Coppell, TX. Burial will occur Monday July 15th at 9:00 AM at the Fort Smith National Cemetery.