Roy Daly

Roy F. "Popeye" Daly
Mr. Roy Daly of Roswell NM passed peacefully at his home on Wednesday May 25, 2016. His beloved granddaughter and caretaker Robbie Rogers was at his side when he met his Lord Jesus. Roy was born to Earl and Bernice Daly in Neches, TX, on May 4 1917. Both have preceded him in death,

Roy grew up in the small east Texas town of Neches where he attended high school before enlisting into the U.S. Navy in 1936. Roy was a brash young man who was quoted as saying, "I just wanted to see what it was all about", when signing up with the Navy. He was a pearl harbor survivor. He always started his story with, well It all started about 8 am on a Sunday morning (December 7, 1941) we didn't know what hit us. Mr. Daly was aboard the USS Maryland in Pearl Harbor HI when a Japanese bomb struck the vessel he was serving on. Mr. Daly then spent the next three days trapped inside the USS Maryland as water flooded several rooms preventing him, or the other trapped seaman, from leaving the damaged ship. Roy kept his cool in the face of fear and death before the crew were finally rescued. Through his ordeal Roy never wavered and choose to reenlist serving a total of 21 years in the navy.

Mr. Daly loved to cook. He honed his skills in the navy working as a cook 15 of the 21 years he was enlisted. He spent many hours in the kitchen with his loving wife Bonnie and his side kick Robbie cooking vegetables grown in his garden and fish that he had wrangled and caught. His garden included a variety of vegetables from zucchini and tomatoes to the traditional east Texas staple collard greens. Roy loved to fish just as much as he loved his garden. After retirement from his cabinet business he and his wife traveled around the state hitting all the well-known New Mexico fishing spots. He owned a cabin at Fort Sumner, NM and would go there often to fish, catching enough fish with every trip to ensure that his freezer at home was fully stocked with catfish year round. He was lucky to live his retirement dream by spending it with family and friends at the lake.

Mr. Roy Daly is survived by his daughters Linda and Dave Crosby of Roswell, Beverly and Jim Pope of Roswell, and step daughter Loretta Bennett; grandchildren Richard Daly, Greg Daly, Robbie Rogers and partner Jason Farr. Kim Clark, and Chuck Travelstead; great grandchildren Chelsea Clark, Bronson Clark, and Tanner Travelstead; and great-great grandchild Ava Gage Cross, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife Bonnie Walker Daly of 49 years; sons Richard "Dick" Daly and Robert l. Graham; sister Virginia Daly; brothers Harold Daly, Raymond Daly, Howard Daly, and John Daly.

Pallbearers will be Curtis Knoll, Harry Tackett, Randy Jaquess, Bill Fitzpatrick, Mike Sudderth, and Bob Vie.

Visitation will be held at Ballard Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 from 9am to 5pm. Services will be at Ballard Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 10am with Pastor Harry Tackett of West Alameda Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow at South Park Cemetery with the Roswell Veteran's Honor Guard conducting graveside services.

The family would like to give special thanks to Jason Farr, Michelle Lee, Doug Rogers, Lilly Sills and Gentiva Hospice.

Visitation

Ballard Funeral Home
910 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Service

Ballard Funeral Chapel
910 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
10:00 am

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203