Roy Eugene Brockman

Roy Eugene Brockman, 91, went Home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 24th, 2021. Roy grew up in West End and graduated from West End High School in 1947. He then enrolled at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He left after a semester to marry the love of his life, Lois Kelso, beginning a marriage that lasted seventy two years. Roy then began his military service by enlisting in the U. S. Air Force in 1949. He was stationed in the frigid land of “The Goose”, at Goose Bay AFB, in Labrador, Newfoundland, guarding the 95th Bomb Wing, for two years. He then transferred to arid Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM, where he taught marksmanship. He completed his military service in the sticky South at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. Afterwards, Roy and Lois moved to Fairfield, Alabama, where Roy went to work at US Steel as an electrician. He was active in the community, coaching teams for Forest Hills Little League Baseball, helping to establish the Fair Oaks Swim and Tennis Club, and contributing in building a new church for Forest Hills United Methodist Church (UMC). In 1978, he retired from US Steel and went to work for the United Steelworkers Union as a representative. That job took him throughout Mississippi, to Mobile, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia. In 1989, he retired and built his dream home on the Warrior River, where he and Lois lived the rest of their lives. Roy was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and uncle who loved his family dearly. He truly enjoyed the time he spent with family and friends, and loved having people visit the river. He and Lois often held social events for church groups and loved hosting family on every holiday. Although he loved living on the river, he had no interest in fishing or boating. Roy loved to sing, exhibiting his beautiful baritone voice in the choir at Forest Hills UMC. Not limiting himself to the church setting, he seemed to be inspired by water to sing. He would sing watering the lawn, doing laundry, driving over bridges, floating in an innertube on the river, and in long, loud shower serenades. His favorite singers were Tennessee Ernie Ford, Johnny Cash, and inexplicably, Slim Whitman (although it is not truly known if he enjoyed Whitman’s warbling or simply used his records to clear the house and have the place to himself). Roy was also an avid reader and loved to write and speak, relishing his time as Commander of the American Legion, Post 347 in Fairfield, and lay leader of Fairfield Highlands UMC. A lifelong Methodist, Roy belonged to Bethlehem UMC in his final years. Another life-long love of Roy’s was the Alabama Crimson Tide! He was a loyal fan to the end, even giving up a “Roll Tide!” during this amazing season when he could barely speak. Roy was a vibrant, intelligent, fun, and loving man, and he will be greatly missed. He is preceded in death by his wife, Lois Brockman, parents, Fred and Celesta Brockman, and brother, Bob Brockman. The loving family Roy leaves behind include his sister, Celesta True; three children: Bob Brockman, Fred Brockman, Ginny Allen (David Puleston); five grandchildren: Robbie Posey, Jonathan Brockman, Amanda Carmean, James Hamilton (Jen), Monty Allen (Jessica); six great-grandchildren: Brock Posey, Kameron Carmean, Nico Hamilton, Olivia Fluker, Alexis Allen, Siena Hamilton; and nieces Mellanie Hills and Tracy Dismukes. Funeral service will be Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home with burial following at Highland Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Roy Eugene Brockman

July 26, 1929 - February 24, 2021