Eric Edmond Royce Roy
August 21, 1964 - March 01, 2016
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Eric Edmond Royce Roy
August 21, 1964 - March 01, 2016
Obituary
Eric Roy, age 51, passed away in Bellingham, Washington on March 1, 2016. He was born in Lompoc, California on August 21, 1964 to parents Sharon Ann (Gilfillan) Roy and Edmond William Roy.
Eric grew up in Seattle, WA and graduated from Inglemoor High School in 1982. After high school he attended Washington State University, intent on becoming a journalist, but luckily fate intervened when a professor informed him that, due to his lack of typing skills, he needed to change his major and so instead set his sights on studying law. He graduated from WSU in 1986 with a degree in Political Science. He then attended Willamette University law school where he graduated with honors in 1991. After his graduation from law school, Eric worked as a judicial clerk for Pierce County Superior Court Judge Robert Peterson. He was then hired as an associate attorney by Seattle law firm Julin Fosso. He moved to Bellingham in 1998 and the following year started his own successful law practice, now known as Roy, Simmons, Smith & Parsons. A brilliant lawyer, he was respected and admired by his peers and judges.
Eric was a lifelong sports enthusiast, both watching and participating. He seemed to be in motion at all times, whether jogging around Lake Padden, playing pickup basketball games, playing third base for many softball teams and regularly participating in Ski to Sea. He worked out at the YMCA almost every day for over 15 years. He was a lifelong fan of the Cougars, Mariners and Seahawks.
Eric’s favorite times, though, were spent with his two children, Andrew and Chloe, taking them on vacations, watching movies and sports and going on hikes and bike rides. He was a devoted and loving father. He was also a wonderful son, friend and co-worker and all around good man who could find the humor in most any situation. He will be greatly missed.
Eric is survived by his children Andrew and Chloe, Aunt Judy Trefren (Jim) and several cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and Aunt Maureen Gehl.
A gathering in memory will be held at the Squalicum Harbor Boathouse, 2600 N. Harbor Loop Drive in Bellingham on March 24th from 5-8 with a ceremony starting promptly at 6 p.m.
Memorial donations made to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
You may share memories in the guestbook at wordpress-271002-1416095.cloudwaysapps.com
10 responses to Eric Edmond Royce Roy
Judge Steven J. Mura (ret.) says:
March 1, 2016
It was with great shock that I learned of Eric’s death this morning. As a judge in Superior Court for 20 years beginning in 1993 I had the pleasure of having Eric appear in my courtroom on many occasions. I was always impressed by the quality of his legal reasoning whether in writing or through oral argument. In short, it was a joy and pleasure to have him as an advocate in my courtroom. I want his children to know what a good and intelligent man their father was. He represented every client with dedication and excitement for their cause, and did so with the utmost honesty and integrity. He was a superb lawyer and human being in every respect. I will be unable to attend his memorial service on the 24th as I will be in the hospital in Seattle myself that day, so I need to use this opportunity to let his family and friends know how much I respected and admired Eric.
Chuck Dygert says:
March 1, 2016
Eric Was my best friend growing up and we remained in contact through out our lives. He was a great athlete and especially excelled to All Star levels in football and basketball. As great as he was playing sports he also excelled to top levels in his studies too. He had many friends and was always happy to attend social gatherings where we would drink beer and socialize. I am crushed my close friend has left us all and I am in shock.
Penny Walker says:
March 1, 2016
I just heard of the passing of Eric Roy. My thoughts and prayers to his family and loved ones. He was a very good man.
Jeff Brown says:
March 1, 2016
I first started working for Eric in 1996. I meet him through Laurie Churchill back in 1994. I had known Laurie for some time and after meeting Eric and seeing the kind of law they practiced, I appreciated how “they went about their business”, and knew that was the place for me. Working for Eric has been one of the greatest aspects of my life. I can still remember when I started working for him, when the firm was called Julin, Fosso, Sage, McBride and Mason. Eric would come up from Seattle 2-3 times a week to work in the Bellingham office. He was not familiar with Bellingham and whenever Laurie and I sent him out for a deposition or to meet someone, he would ask “Where is that in relationship to Barters” – The old drive-in on Meridian, because he would eat the fried oysters there about every lunch he was in town and that was his only reference point.
In those days, Laurie and Eric were big smokers. Eric could be intense and not the easiest guy to go in and talk with about a case. This was pre-internet/e-mail. I’d ask Laurie about a case and she would give me the low down on what was going on, even when it was not her case. I finally figured out that while they were out smoking she would ask him about all of her cases and he would just rattle off the status. Thus, I began my career as a second hand smoker. In about 5 minutes I was up to date on all of my cases.
Eric had an overriding sense of never wanting to be unprepared for anything. If he had a trial on Monday, he would take the entire file in his office the Tuesday prior and begin going over and over the file. By Friday, he would have the entire file taken apart and put back together again the way he wanted it and he would know every document in the file. He would then work the weekend going over everything regarding the case. If I even went near the box I would get a stare and a “Hey, what are you doing?” comment. He took copious notes and would just continue to go over and over them, until he knew every aspect of the case.
Throughout the trial prep process he would come into my office and run things by me, such as, “If I said the Plaintiff did this or that, would you be offended”. He was always willing to hear me out on a subject, and give me the reason for why something was being done. Through his explanations and guidance I became a better paralegal for him and the firm. We were a really good team and I will miss that immensely.
I only went to a few of his early trials so that I could see the process. He really had no need for me to be there and I felt better “holding down the fort” back at the office. I can still recall him questioning the plaintiff and going down the checklist of doctor visits and chart notes and looking over at the Plaintiff’s attorney who was scrambling in vain to locate the documents Eric was referring to and having a very distressed look on his face.
Eric’s desire to be prepared extended to all aspects of his life. He was very athletic. When I first met him he would go to Hoopfest in Spokane and play basketball at the Y. When he had kids, he put that aspect of his life on the shelf. However, about 10 years ago, he got back into playing softball. He would call me up before the season and we would go out and I would pitch balls to him so that he could work on his swing. He really enjoyed playing sports and you could see the excitement on his face before and during games.
As we know, he had a playful side. One time before a game at Geri fields in Bellingham, we were warming up and tossing the ball back and forth near the parking lot. After a few throws, he gets the ball, then gets this funny look on his face and instead of just throwing me the ball he tried to go under his leg and throw it to me. The ball took a high trajectory and went way over my head and into the parking lot and lands right on the windshield of a truck. The windshield shattered. He was so embarrassed.
Many years ago, we had a case in mandatory arbitration where we represented the City of Lynden in a slip and fall on a sidewalk. The woman alleged she slipped on the green algae that was growing underneath one of the planters on the side of the road. It was a lame claim and the area in dispute was just discolored cement, no real moss or algae growth. At that time our office was in the Crown Plaza on the second floor. Eric’s office overlooked Magnolia. On the other side of the street were some planters with some very light green discoloration beneath it on the sidewalk. I came into his office to discuss a case and he turned his chair, jumped up and started screaming for the lady walking down the street to watch out. “Get out of there! Don’t you know what kind of danger you are in?” I’ll miss those moments.
Eric was above board in everything he did. I never saw an occasion where he didn’t treat the Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s attorney, witnesses with the utmost respect. He was especially good at taking the depositions of children. When we noted up a child’s deposition, the other attorney would get nervous about how hard Eric would question them. However, every time, the dep would take about 15-20 minutes and would just be a gentle conversation.
I’ve never seen a more dedicated father. His time with his kids, Andrew and Chloe, was the most important thing in his life. He would have me cancel depositions and meetings if it conflicted with a day/night he had his kids. If he had a trial the week following a kid weekend, he would have everything prepared by Friday, so he didn’t have “work” over the weekend and lose out on time with his kids.
Working with Eric has been the high point of my career. I will miss him enormously.
Michael Love says:
March 1, 2016
RIP Eric. You fought the good fight.