Royce Hightower

Royce Hightower, 87 of Abilene, passed away at his home on October 22, 2018.  A service is scheduled for 11:00 am, Monday October 29th, 2018 at Potosi Baptist Church with Abilene Fire Department Chaplain Chris Hale and Brother Keith Clifton officiating.   A visitation will be held Sunday afternoon from 2:00-4:00 pm at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St.

Royce was born in Millsap, Texas on December 27, 1930 to Edna P. Langford and Augustus Samuel Hightower. He graduated from Millsap High School in 1948. After high school he attended Weatherford Junior College and Texas A & M University. In January of 1951 he joined the Air Force and served until December of 1954. He was a Radio Communication Officer in Scotland responsible for intercepting and decoding enemy messages.

In 1955, Royce joined the Texas Department of Public Safety as a State Trooper. He was stationed in Abilene, where he met and married his true love, Donna Mae Yaw. They were married in 1960 and moved to Ozona, Texas in 1962 where they lived and raised their son, Sam Hightower for the next thirty-six years.

Royce was an avid hunter, fisherman, ham radio operator and world traveler. He and Donna enjoyed many years after their retirement, camping with the West Texas Unit and Plains Unit of WBCCI. They traveled to all the lower 48 states, Alaska and many provinces in Canada. Royce was a 32 ^nd degree Mason - Lodge 1043 of Millsap and an active member of Potosi Baptist Church.

Preceding Royce in death were his parents, his brothers; Eugene and Ward Hightower; his sister, Geneva Hightower Eddleman, his mother and father-in law, Thelma and Ira Yaw and his brother-in-law, Alan Yaw. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Donna Mae Yaw Hightower, his son, Sam Hightower (JoLynn) and his grandchildren, Mason and Morgan Hightower. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Annie Lou Enteman of Lancaster, CA, nieces; Janet Wommack (Lee) of Bronte, TX, Judy Allen (Tom) and Jana Sojourner (William) and nephews; Rusty Hightower of Ft Worth, TX, Gene Hightower (Linda) and Darrell Hightower both of West Columbia, TX as well as many other extended family members and close friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Abilene Professional Firefighters Association or charity of your choice. The family would like to offer a special thanks to Kinder Hearts hospice and home health and Visiting Angels for their loving care of Royce. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.