Newspaper article about Vera Royer
I come from a line of very strong and determined ancestors, of that I have no doubt. So, in honor of June being the month for graduations and to honor these members of my family, today I would like to share their graduation stories! All three of these people knew that "It is never too late to learn" or to go back to school.
Vera Ellen (Mason) Royer was born in 1903. She married Josephat E. Royer in 1924 and they raised a family of four children. On the 1940 census, when Vera was 37 years old, she states that her highest level of education completed was 7th grade. 39 years later, that changed for Vera.
12 years later, in 1991, Vera's daughter-in-law and my grandmother, Grace Elizabeth Ann (Brock) Royer, also made the decision to go back to school. At the age of 60, Grace graduated with her high school diploma from Herbert Henry Dow high school in Midland, Michigan.
At the age of 76, now living at the Ranieri Rest Home, Vera started working towards her high school diploma by attending evening classes at Sault Area High school.
The same year, that Grace graduated so did her grandson, Brian Royer, who graduated from Alpena High School in Alpena, Michigan.
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 Grace Royer and her grandson Brian Royer - Both graduated with their high school diplomas in 1991. Brian at the age of 17 and Grace at the age of 60.
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The story of strength and determination doesn't stop there. In 2005, Albert Royer, son of Grace (Brock) Royer and Father of Brian Royer, graduates with his high school diploma at the age of 54. Albert, left high school in 1968, when he was a senior, only to return to finish what he had started 37 years prior.
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A newspaper article published in The Alpena News on Friday, June 3, 2005
These three amazing members of my family are proof that "It is never too late to learn" or to finish what you started!
I am the granddaughter of Marian Marie Royer Burton the daughter of Rosalie
It is very nice to hear from you Thelma. I think I saw that you posted in the Royer Family group on Facebook as well. I am Linda (Royer) Szymanski’s daughter.