McGreal Roy

Roy J. McGreal died September 15, 2017 at the age of 100 in Litchfield Park, AZ. Predeceased by his wife, Eva (Flannigan) McGreal, in 2010, Roy is survived by 9 nieces and nephews: Richard (Mary Munday) Clark, Kerry (Rick) Danforth, James (Buffie Bolger) O’Connell, Teresa (Harry) Ackstein, John (Nancy) Clark, Lori O’Connell, William Ray, Francie Ray and Amy (Tim) Devlin.

Roy was born on the South Side of Chicago, the only son of Anne (Ruane) and Dominic McGreal and brother to three sisters: Bernice Clark (d. 1969), Virginia O’Connell (d. 1979) and Jean Ray (d. 2011). He attended St. Columbanus G.S. and Hyde Park H.S., and received a B.A. in Accounting from DePaul Univ. Roy enlisted in the Army in 12/1941 and was a Warrant Officer in the Pacific theater.After the war, he and his brother-in-law opened Arjay's Liquor Mart & Tap Room, a Marquette Park institution for forty years. After retiring, Roy, a life-long golfer, built a house on the golf course at PebbleCreek Resort Community in Goodyear, AZ. He loved his life there, golfed frequently, enjoyed an active social life, and welcomed visits from his nieces and nephews. At 78, he married the love of his life, Eva Flannigan.

Roy was a loving and supportive uncle to his nine nieces and nephews and took an active interest in their lives from the day they were born until the day he died. He instilled confidence in them, believing they were all talented, smart and capable of anything they set their minds to. He was extraordinarily kind and compassionate. If he saw someone who looked lonely or sad, he’d go out of his way to smile and engage them in conversation, whether he knew them or not. He often quoted one of his father’s sayings that a person wasn’t completely dressed unless he wore a smile on his face. Roy always had a smile ready for family, friends and strangers—a smile and love. A memorial mass will be held on Friday, November 10, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Avondale, AZ. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Avondale, AZ. In lieu of flowers, send contributions to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.