Ted Reese Royter, Jr.

Our beloved brother passed from this world July 1, 2022 at his home in Healdsburg, California. Ted was born in Jerome, Idaho on New Year's Day – the fourth child born in five years to Ted Sr. and Kelly (Hall) Royter. The Royters spent several adventurous years in Glenns Ferry before relocating to Boise. By 1967, the family doubled in size when Dad married June Foss who also had four children. Thanks to Dad and Mom we were a big, noisy, fun family of eight.

After graduating from Boise High School in 1974, Ted and his best friend, also a Ted, spent the summer backpacking around Europe. In Italy, they met another pair of traveling teenagers from New York, Alan and Alan, and the foursome enjoyed the sights together. The Teds last stop in Europe before heading home was Amsterdam. Ted was sure it was the best place to buy a diamond ring which he did, and came home to propose to his high school sweetheart. Ted and Kathy married in July 1975 and moved to Sacramento. They enjoyed the area very much and after they divorced, Ted continued to make California his home.

Ted loved to travel! Sometimes with friends and family, but several solo vacations too. He made many trips to see siblings across the country. He spent the fourth of July in Washington D.C., and loved to visit Hawaii. He took helicopter tours, went whale watching, zip lined, toured most of the islands, and somewhat reluctantly, visited the WWII sites. Ted made his home in Healdsburg, where he was a successful painting contractor for many years. He loved everything about living in Northern California and was convinced it was the BEST place to live.

Ted was a football fan and loved playing at home in the yard with all his siblings. It was probably his idea to get all Dad's tee shirts out and put big red numbers on the back, so we could look like an official team. It was definitely his idea to randomly tackle his sisters, not on the football field, but as they would casually walk through the living room. Once tackled, you weren't allowed to get up until you yelled, "TWEET" so that it sounded like the ref's whistle. You can imagine how much his sisters enjoyed that, and why 50 plus years later, they've included the story here.

Ted was a lifelong 49ers fan and was rumored to rearrange his furniture on game day so he could run plays in his living room. Sometimes he laughed and said, "yeah, I did that", other times he would loudly call us all liars. He was also fond of calling some of us "a sad man without a team!" The Boise State Broncos also had Ted's heart and he proudly wore his Blue and Orange on game day. He and older brother Randy routinely watched BSU games "together", one in Northern CA one in Southern, syncing their television broadcasts and spending hours on the phone.

He also loved music, listening and dancing only, as he could not carry a tune regardless of bucket size. Ted liked to fish and bird hunted with his older brothers, Randy and Douglas. He was a hobby golfer, a dedicated Coors lite fan, and a devoted Democrat. Ted was an animal lover – he fed everything that came to the property, but his heart has always belonged to his beloved cats. From kitties to strays, needing literally thousands of dollars of veterinary care, Ted brought them in, fed them and loved them. We cannot remember a time he did not have one or (many) more kitties roaming his home and keeping him company.

Teddy loved his family and was sure it was the BEST family ever. Apologies to anyone reading this as we're certain you have perfectly nice families, but as far as Ted was concerned, just not as nice as his family. He adored his Dad, Ted Sr., and said he'd learned his work ethic from this sweet man who worked for the railroad six days a week for 46 years. Ted thought our Mom, June, was just about perfect. He credited her with saving his life as a young kid and helping him believe in himself. He also credited her with causing him to go prematurely bald after our hairdresser Mom gave him a perm and it didn't turn out quite like he wanted. Mom was the force behind our family and deserves a special place in heaven for not killing us all as teenagers as we so richly deserved.

Ted was predeceased by his first mom Kelly, his Dad Ted, his mom June and oldest brother Bob Foss. He is survived by siblings and spouses, Douglas Royter, Don Foss and Jamie Deneris, Randy and Carla Royter, Patty Foss and Ron Cameron, Nancy and Fred Rockefeller, sister-in-law Mary Bachman, and Chris and Rick Dulaney. Nieces and nephews include: Juney Rockefeller and Neill Forrest, Hannah Rockefeller, Sarah Rockefeller and Elliot Reaven, Emily and Ben Wilson, Taylor Foss and family, Whitney Foss, Sarah Royter, Joshua and Rebekah Royter and family, Jordan Royter, Justin Royter, and Jamie and Heidi Royter and family. We will celebrate Ted's life along with Mom's in Boise, Mother's Day weekend 2023. Find peace Teddy – we love you!

CALL 988 – If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7. Trained crisis counselors are available to help people experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use, mental health issues or any other kind of emotional distress. Call or text 988 – there is help and hope for you!

Published in Press Banner · September 8, 2022