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EDITH JEAN ROYAL

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Edith Jean Royal, 94, of Osage Beach, formerly of Lebanon, died Sunday morning, Oct. 3, 2021, in Osage Beach Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Osage Beach.

She was born Jan. 10, 1927, in Flint, Mich. to Lawrence and Eunice Chandler Hockey.

On June 9, 1946, she married James Benton “Bud’’ Royal.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband of 56 years, Bud, on Feb. 4, 2003.

Edith was raised in Springfield, Mo. and graduated from Central High School in the Class of 1944. One of Edith’s non-school experiences was a summer spent in Independence, Mo. She worked at an ammunition factory where she inspected 30 Caliber ammunition for the United States military. In 1949, she and Bud left Springfield, and were off to Truman, Ark. for employment with the Frisco Railroad Company. They attended Sunday school and church at the Methodist Church on the first Sunday after they arrived in Arkansas. The school principal was a member of the Sunday school class and after he found out that Edith had some college credit hours, he offered her a job as a substitute teacher. She fell in love with the job and the kids. She then enrolled in summer school at Arkansas State University and in 1953, received her degree. She later earned her Master’s Degree from Drury University. In 1964, the family moved to Lebanon, and Edith took a job at Lebanon High School. She taught social studies at LHS until her retirement. During her tenure, served as the head of the Department of Social Studies, and was the head advisor for the Student Council. She was in the school classroom for 33 1/2 years. She had a very active life supporting her community and her profession. In 2017, she was the recipient of the Lebanon Wall of Honor award.

She is survived by a son, Ben Royal and his wife Sandra of Montreal; two grandchildren, Tommy Royal and his wife Katie of Montreal, and Michelle Becker and her husband Brian of Richland; four great-grandchildren, Ryan, Hallie, Kayden, and Kaylee; three sisters, Etta Peace of Kimberling City; Sue Richards and her husband Don of Diamond Head, Miss., and Eileen Fraiser of Fort Wayne, Ind.; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Edith Jean Royal will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in Lebanon with the Rev. Marsha Vincent officiating. Burial will be in Mount Rose Memorial Park, under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Thursday in the First United Methodist Church in Lebanon. A memorial to the First United Methodist Church of Lebanon has been established and contributions may be made through the funeral home. For more information or to visit the website go to www.holmanhowe.com.