Royce Arnold Keown

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden, and unexpected passing of Royce Arnold Keown on August 23rd 2026, in Hamilton, Ontario at the age of 79.

Born and raised in Parry Sound, Ontario, Royce lived for many years in Oak Ridges, Sutton West, and Hamilton. Throughout his life, he frequently reminisced about his many years of hard work, lifelong friendships, and the family he loved deeply.

Predeceased by his cherished wife of 50 years, Barbara Keown (nee Coughlin) as well as his Mother and Father; Marie and Edward Keown, his brother Ken Keown, Ken’s son, Ken Jr., and his sisters Carolyn Gougeon, and Wanda Nickerson.

Royce was a kindhearted, gentle, and incredibly hardworking man. He often recalled the days of working for the Union, and working on Toronto’s original high rise building, the TD Centre, where he installed Fairweather Systems. He loved to laugh about the heights he and his crew would climb long before modern safety regulations existed. In his younger years, he enjoyed refereeing hockey, and held a deep love for fast cars and long drives.

An avid sports fan, Royce loved watching the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Toronto Blue Jays. He loved to watch the Olympics; especially curling. He enjoyed relaxing with game shows and mystery series, and was the ultimate fan of any meal cooked by Barb.

In leu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Fighting Blindness Canada, or the Canadian Lung Association to support research into Retinitis Pigmentosa and COPD.