Obituary: Roy Lee Henley

Roy Lee Henley had a smile that could lift up your world and a laugh that stays etched in your brain for a lifetime. A gifted helicopter pilot, who got his start flying as a Warrant Officer in Vietnam '68, he was every inch an officer and a gentleman, with just enough mischief and wit sprinkled in to keep us all in trouble and happy about it.
He was a Dad, a husband, a business owner (Universal Air) and an epic best friend who deeply loved life and all the people in it. A guy who could fix anything, right after he broke it, a master of the butter beans, a primper of hair, a payer of bar tabs, an over-tipper of waiters, a celebrator of Memorial Days, late night singer of doo wop, champion of the honey do's, buster of balls (particularly his friend Timmy's), burner of chiminea's (also Timmy's), avid reader of whatever his friend Karen was reading, world traveler (with his partner in crime, Susan) and a guy who never lost his wry sense of humor and witty banter even up until the bitter end.
Roy passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and friends on Veteran's Day Nov. 11, 2016, thereby ensuring himself his own national holiday, which will from this moment forward be referred to as Roy Henley Day. Roy is survived by his beloved wife of 13 years, Susan; daughters, Stacy (Doyle) Mahan, Stephanie (Terry) Neal; sons Sean (Jessica) Henley, Brett Henley; mother, Lois Henley; siblings, Sandra Hines, Chris Henley, Sue (JW) Cooper, Roberta (David) Houser; and many loving grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family.
A memorial service in Roy's honor will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha.
Memorial donations may be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America at 8719 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or online at vva.org/donate, or Give Kids the World, 210 S. Bass Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746, online at gktw.org/donate.
Arrangements under the direction of Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, Gotha, Florida.