Obituary: Charles ‘Charley’ T. Royer

Published 2:52 pm Monday, September 2, 2024

Charles “Charley” T. Royer

Gearhart

Aug. 22, 1939 — July 26, 2024

Former Seattle Mayor Charles “Charley” T. Royer, who served three terms in office (1978-1990), passed away July 26 at his home in Gearhart.

Charley was the longest-serving mayor of Seattle, an award-winning American television journalist and former director of the Institute for Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

He was a co-chairman of Friends of the Seattle Waterfront Committee, and a former chairman and member of the Ballpark Public Facilities District. He also served as the director for the Urban Health Initiative, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which worked in five major American cities to improve the health, safety and educational outcomes for children.

Charley was born in Medford on Aug. 22, 1939. He married Ann (Walker) Davis, and briefly studied at Portland State University before joining the U.S. Army in 1961. After his discharge, he attended the University of Oregon and studied journalism. He graduated in 1966 from the School of Journalism.

He married Rosanne (Gostovich) Royer in 1968.

He served seven years as a reporter and news analyst, first at KOIN in Portland and then at KING in Seattle. At KING, he shared a beat with his brother, Bob, whom he worked closely with throughout his life, including in his administration at the city of Seattle.

Royer is survived by his wife of 24 years, Lynn Claudon; his daughter, Suzanne Royer McCone, her husband, Dan, and son, Jordan Royer. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Gabriella (Michelle), and their daughter, Frances, and granddaughters, Truly, Georgia and Collette.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Mildred Royer, and his brother, Robert “Bob” Royer.

A memorial gathering will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Museum of History & Industry, 800 Terry Ave. N. in Seattle.

Memorial donations may be made to MOHAI (mohai.org), Friends of Waterfront Park (waterfrontparkseattle.org), or the Pike Place Market Foundation (pikeplacemarketfoundation.org).

Hughes-Ransom Mortuary and Crematory was in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left at hughesransom.com.