In Memory of Barbara “Kaye” Royer (Christian

Barbara “Kaye” Royer (Christian) was born on September 28, 1944, to Walker and Bonnie Christian in Green Forrest, Arkansas. She cherished her early years in Arkansas with her older brother Dean and older sister Jean. In 1949, the family moved to Arvin, California. Kaye graduated from Arvin High School in 1962 and later attended Chico State for a short time.

She then began teaching at Apostolic High School in Stockton, California, where she discovered a love for Christian education and also met her best friend and future husband, David Royer. Kaye and David were married on July 8, 1967, and went on to celebrate 55 years of marriage-a life filled with love, partnership, and treasured memories.

Together they raised two sons, Neil Scott (Lisa) and Todd Joseph (Kristina), and were blessed with five grandchildren: Madison and Micah (Neil and Lisa), and Jacqueline, Christian, and Raymond (Todd and Kristina). Kaye adored each of them, and they lovingly called her “Kaye-Kaye,” an adaptation to her name made by Madison, her first grandchild. She spent hours cooking, baking, watching movies and playing games with them when they visited one another.

David and Kaye built three homes together and devoted 47 years to pastoral ministry. They served two years in McFarland, California; thirty-five years in Auburn, California; and ten years in Edgewood, New Mexico. As a pastor’s wife, Kaye was passionate, creative, and deeply committed. She wrote countless plays, directed productions, crafted devotions, taught Bible studies, led worship, and was an exceptional Sunday School teacher.

Teaching, writing, reading, and tutoring were lifelong passions that she poured into her career at Sierra College, where she worked from March 1983 to July 2009. She became a full-time employee in 1995 as an Instructional Assistant in the Learning Opportunity Center and later retired as a Learning Disability Specialist in the Learning Disability Center. Her compassion, patience, and dedication touched the lives of countless students.

Kaye is preceded in death by her parents, Walker and Bonnie Christian; her husband, David Royer; her sister, Jean Christian; and her sister-in-law, Shirley Christian. She leaves behind her loving family: her brother Dean, her sons Neil (Lisa) and Todd (Kristina), her five cherished grandchildren, and many nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.

Kaye’s life was spent pouring out love and encouragement to everyone she met. Her absence will be deeply felt, and her memory will be treasured by her family and countless friends.