Roy Lee Laws, Sr. of Racine, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2022 at the age of 80. He was one of nine children and the eldest son born to the late Learm and Theresa Laws in Plumerville, Arkansas on May 28, 1942. Roy accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church.  After graduating from Menifee high school in 1960, he moved to California where he began his studies at Santa Monica Technical School for engineering.   He then went on to work for McDonnell Douglas on the Apollo Space program and DC-10 aircrafts.

In 1973, he moved to Wisconsin and began working as a supervisor at AMC Chrysler until he retired in 1990.  Upon retirement, he pursued multiple entrepreneurial ventures including opening a restaurant, several night clubs, bait shop, lawn service and independent trucking contractor.  In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and watching sports.

Roy served on the Trustee Board St. Paul MBC.  He was a Mason with the South Gate Lodge No. 6, F. & A.M., Prince Hall Affiliated in Racine, WI.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, James and Sam Robert Laws; sister, Freddie Laws; father-in-law, Ben Franklin; mother-in-law, Inez Franklin. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 25 years, Wade Ella Laws; his children, Robert Laws of Little Rock, AR, Kimberlynn Laws and Roy Laws, Jr. both of Racine, WI and Michelle (Royce) Gurnell of Atlanta, GA; stepchildren, Jacque (Kristina) Wilson, Danielle Wilson, Dawn (Gerald) Cook, Pierre Wilson, Owen Wilson, Jr. all from Washington, DC; Milton (Joyce) Taylor, Jeffery (Mykicia) Hubbard, Reggie (Lakestra) Hubbard all of Racine, WI and Shana (Tehl) Borger of Kenosha, WI, Marina Novakovich, DeAngelo Morrell D. Cobb, Dashawn Laws, Nicklos Laws of Milwaukee, WI,  Nabor Laws and Izell (Faye) Fonder of Racine, WI. He is further survived by siblings, Louvenia Webb-Shawnee of Kansas, Julia (Woodrow) Canady of Plumerville, AR, Carolynn (James) Butler of North Little Rock, AR, Linda Timmons of Plumerville, AR, Paul (Yvette) Laws of Bloomington, MN, and Laythel Laws of Sacramento, CA; sisters-in-law, Kathy Laws of Fort Worth, TX,  Frankie Rocket of Oak Creek, WI,  Shirley Franklin of Grand Rapids, MI and brother-in-law Melvin Clark of Helena, AR and Terry (Beth) Franklin of Minneapolis, MN; along with a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, other relatives and friends that loved him dearly.

Service Details

His Homegoing service will be held on Friday, December 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at St Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 1120 Grand Ave., Racine.  Interment will follow in Graceland Cemetery.  A visitation will take place on Friday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.