Obituary of Royce Lyles

Royce Lyles passed away peacefully on May 23, 2023 in Pensacola, FL at a local memory care facility. Royce was born in the hospital in Bartow, FL on April 9, 1933 but grew up in Frostproof. He loved sports and played on the football, basketball and baseball teams while in high school. He went on to the University of Florida where he graduated in 1955 with a degree in accounting. He later became a Certified Public Accountant and earned an MBA degree from the University of North Florida. 

He loved Gator athletics and attended many Gators sporting events, including the football national championship game in Arizona in 2007 and the basketball national semifinal in Atlanta the same year. He also enjoyed golf and was able to attend many tournaments, including the 2009 Masters.

Right after college he went to Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI followed by supply school in Athens, GA. He traveled extensively with the Navy as a supply officer and finished his naval career in Jacksonville, FL in early 1960. Shortly before being transferred there, he met and married his wife of over 64 years, Ruth Anna Lipscomb, in Foley, AL while stationed at nearby Barin Field. They stayed in Jacksonville after he left the Navy where he eventually took a job with the city as an accountant. He worked his way up to treasurer and then finance director for the city. In 1968, he was heavily involved in the consolidation of the city with the county. 

In 1979, he was appointed managing director of the Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) where he was instrumental in numerous advances, including significantly lowering rates for customers. During his tenure there he also served as President of the American Public Power Association (APPA) one year as well as president of one of the local Rotary chapters. He retired in 1995 and then served on the board of Georgia System Operations Corporation (GSOC) for about 20 years. During retirement he lived in Gainesville, FL, The Villages, FL, Foley, AL and Pensacola, FL. He and Ruth were also able to travel extensively and enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren. 

Royce is survived by wife Ruth in Foley, AL; his children and their spouses, Craig Royce (Sheryl) in Palm Coast, FL, Reed Scott (Donna) in Hoover, AL and Dara Lynn Nassif (Hani) in Sarasota, FL; and his grandchildren Carter Reed (Noriko) Lyles in Hoover, AL, Perri Allison Lyles (David Sox) in Gainesville, FL, Shannon Alexis (Patrick) Speir in Fuquay Varina, NC, Connor Royce Lyles in Dunwoody, GA, Erin McKenzie Lyles in Portland, OR, Luke Royce Nassif in Sarasota, FL and Nyah Haley Nassif in New York, NY. He is also survived by great granddaughter Carter Sonya Speir in NC. Other surviving family members include numerous nieces/nephews and Ruth's beloved sisters Elva, Barbara and Linda (Rodney).

He was preceded in death by his parents Cleveland Clifton and Iba Mae (nee Reynolds) Lyles and his siblings Corris Clifton Lyles, Iba Mildred (Mickey) Lyles Harrell, and Barbara Marvis (Bobbie) Lyles Rhymes. Ruth's eldest sister Ruby, who was born on the same day as Royce, also preceded him in death.

A memorial service will be held Saturday June 3 2023 at Vernant Park Baptist Church in Foley, AL

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