Catherine Kelly Royal

Catherine Kelly Royal, age 87, of Forest City, NC, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

A native of Eatonton, Georgia, Catherine was the daughter of the late Ralph, and Vera Kelly. In addition to her parents, Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Darwin "Mountain Man" Royal, two granddaughters, Kiara Bryant, and Jennifer Williams, one grandson, Marcus Hardin, and her brother, Walter Kelly.

Catherine was a long and faithful member of Cornerstone Fellowship. She worked most of her life as a weaver, as well as in real estate and home sales. When her oldest daughter started college in 1970, Catherine finally went back and got her high school diploma. She graduated from Isothermal Community College in 1974 with an Associate’s degree. She was a Guardian ad Litem and became a missionary at the age of 71, going to India twice with the Cornerstone Mission group. Both of Catherine's parents came to this country, through Ellis Island as children, thereby making her and her brother, Walter, first generation Americans.  She joined the Tea Party and marched on Washington DC in 2012. Catherine never turned away a needy soul. She took in many people over the years and helped them get back on their feet, feeding, housing, and encouraging them. Reading the Bible was a passion for Catherine. A few years back she started reading a Bible each year, marking the date she read  and making notes. She wanted each of her children to have a Bible that she had read, given to them after her death. After 5 years, she continued reading for her grandchildren.

Left to cherish her memory are her four daughters, Cathe Graves (the late Bob) of San Antonio, TX, Nance Bryant of Forest City, Liz Segers (James) of Forest City, Azia Bryant (Kristopher) of Forest City, one son, Dan Royal of Forest City, and fifty-seven grand, great grand, and great-great grandchildren. 

The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Sunday, June 4, 2023, at Cornerstone Fellowship Church. The funeral service will be at Cornerstone Fellowship Church at 3:00 PM, Sunday, June 4, 2023, with Pastor Mike Deese officiating. Interment will follow at the Royal Family Cemetery, Forest City, NC. McMahan's Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

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