Royce Stephen, 62 of New Sharon passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 17, 2019 while performing his duties at work. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Monday, October 21, 2019 at the Community Hope Church in Montezuma. Burial will be held in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon following the luncheon. Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon, October 20, 2019 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in New Sharon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Community Hope Church of Montezuma.

Royce Dean Stephen was born June 15, 1957 in Oskaloosa, Iowa to Duane and Lois (Eflin) Stephen. He attended New Sharon school and graduated from North Mahaska High School with the class of 1975. He attended Indian Hills Community College graduating with a degree in Building Trades. Royce was united in marriage to Beverly Barker on December 6, 1980. They are the parents of three children, Adam, Stephanie and Cassie. Royce spent much of his career first at Cargill in Eddyville, IA and most recently 19 years working for the Oskaloosa Water Department. Hunting and trap shooting were favorite pastimes of his. Most of all his faith in God and providing for his family were his most treasured priorities. He was a member of Community Hope Church in Montezuma, IA.

His memory will be honored by his wife of nearly 39 years, Beverly Stephen, his mother Lois Stephen, three children, Adam Stephen of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Stephanie Stephen of Salem, New Hampshire and Querétaro, Mexico, and Cassie (Scott) Meier of Colorado Springs, Colorado; six grandchildren, Jasmine and Natalie Stephen of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Kohen, Karter, and Karlee Meier of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Emilio Martinez Stephen of Queretaro, Mexico; and two sisters, Florene Williams of Springfield, Missouri, and Cindy (Bill) McConkey of Englewood, Colorado.

Royce was preceded in death by his father Duane Stephen.