Royce Monks

Royce Eugene Monks entered eternal rest on June 20th, 2018 in Birmingham, Alabama at the age of 82. He was born August 17th, 1935 in Laflore County, Oklahoma to Tracy and Johnnie Monks. Royce became the first member of his family to graduate from college with a B.S. from UOP in 1955. He didn't stop there, however, he went on to earn a master's degree in chemical engineering from Kansas State University in 1964. In 1970 he graduated from University of Southern California with a second master's degree in public administration. Royce became a Nuclear Physicist working for the Department of Defense at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, the Nevada Nuclear Test Site, and the Rocky Flats Nuclear Facility in Colorado. Later he became a licensed real estate agent. On June 17th, 1960 Royce married his sweetheart Artha Lines in Safford, AZ. The couple had 4 children, Jocelyn Mandrell, Jonathon Royce Monks, Jason Arther Monks, and Jennifer Monks Hammond. They had 21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He had several pets including black neck swans, a Doberman, a macaw and tortoises. Royce enjoyed raising exotic fowl. Royce is survived by his children; Jocelyn and Jimmy Mandrell, Jon and Debbie Monks, Jason and Shelley Monks and Jennifer Monks Hammond as well as his 21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife and his parents. The family would also like to especially thank Chandell Hull Alekzander for being a lifelong friend to Royce.