Roy was born on April 19, 1935 in New Westminster.  He was the second son of Manning and Ethel Mortison, and the middle brother to Don and Howard Mortison.

Roy was also raised and educated in New Westminster and spent many many years of his life in this city, which is where he resided up to his passing on July 29, 2009.

It was during Roy’s high school years that he learned of his great love for sports, particularly baseball.  He would eat, sleep and breathe baseball.  He was known as being “The Homerun Hitter.”  When asked to hit a homerun, Roy’s response was either “Sure, do you want it hit right or left-handed?” or “Where do you want me to put it?”  Teammates ,along with many others, would quite often make bets on whether Roy was going to hit a homerun his turn up to bat, and if so, where the ball was going to land.  Although Roy was such a strong player, he was never boastful about it, nor did he let it go to his head.

It was also during those school years that Roy met Joyce Louise Gunter and they soon became an item.  Joyce was Roy’s biggest sports fan.  She kept a wonderfully detailed scrapbook that highlighted all his games, newspaper clippings and special baseball events.  Roy and Joyce were married on November 15, 1957.  They resided in Coquitlam for 19 years where they raised their three now grown daughters, Debbie, Shelley, and Heather.  Joyce passed away suddenly on February 12, 1989 and although she was no longer here for him, she continued to be the love of his life for the next 20 years.

Roy began his working career with the Motor Vehicle Branch.  From 1953-1959, he worked as an issuer of permits and licenses, a driver’s examiner and holiday relief for branch managers on the mainland.  The last two years were based out of the Kamloops branch operating a one man traveling unit servicing many remote areas in central and coastal British Columbia providing drivers with written, eye and road test examinations.  In addition to the Motor Vehicle Branch, Roy played professional baseball in the old coast league during the evenings from 1954-1957.

In late 1959, Roy became the sales manager for Middlegate Car Sales in Burnaby.

In February 1961, he joined and was sworn into the New Westminster Police Service and completed the following assignments:
-  3 years in Traffic Division,
-  9 years in Patrol Division and Community Relations Division,
-  2 years as Corporal i/c Records Division,
-  3 years as Detective i/c Fraud Section in the Criminal Investigation Division, and
-  13 years as Detective in the Major Crime Section of the Criminal Investigation Division.

After a lengthy career, in April 1991, Roy retired from the New Westminster Police Service, where he received the “30 year Police Exemplary Service Medal” from the Governor General of Canada in Ottawa.

During Roy’s retirement, he continued to keep busy by involving himself with several endeavours.  For 17 years, he belonged to the Board of Directors for the Gulf & Fraser Credit Union , where he acted in various capacities, including 1st and 2nd vice-chairman.  Roy was also interested in the private investigation field and filled his working time on a part-time basis.  Roy liked to include his daughter Debbie in some of his cases.  Roy also joined the New Westminster Superannuated Police Officers’ Association where he became the Treasurer, holding this position until the time of his passing.

Throughout his life, Roy was a very loving, family-oriented man.  He enjoyed camping, fishing, photography, and watching sporting events.  He was very loyal to his family and partook in all the family’s extra-curricular activities.  Roy also enjoyed coaching women’s fastball for two of his daughters, Shelley and Heather.

Roy loved to do electrical work and was always willing to help out family and friends.  He was also skilled in other areas such as drafting and letter writing.  Roy’s meticulous attention to detail was noticed by all.  Even with all this, Roy still managed to find time for a little relaxation to sit down and complete the jumbles in the Province newspaper.

Roy was always known to be a perfect gentleman.  He was extremely thoughtful, honest, reliable, and could always be counted on to offer positive support no matter what the situation may be.  Roy liked to enjoy a good chuckle.  He was always a good sport - whether he was dishing it out or receiving it.  He had a great sense of humour.

Roy was deeply loved by many and will be missed by all!