Christopher Elder Roady's Obituary
Christopher Elder Roady, Sr., age 71, passed away on Friday, February 16, 2024. Chris (affectionately known as Grandpa by his six grandchildren) was born on June 5, 1952 in Tallahassee, Florida to his loving parents, Dr. Elston and Barbara Roady.
As a child, Chris loved sports, books, and his dog, Snoopy. He enjoyed playing pick-up football in the front yard of his house in Indianhead Acres. He was an excellent pitcher and third baseman, thanks to time spent practicing at the local baseball field with his older brother, Steve. As a dad, Chris devoted his spare time to carting his three children to all of their activities and was fiercely protective of them and their hearts. He also shared with them, from an early age, his love of literature and language, reading to them when they were very young, passing along book recommendations as they grew up, and delighting in clever word play and funny stories on NPR’s “A Way with Words” and “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.” Jennifer, Katherine, and Christopher knew Dad was their biggest ally and advocate. As a grandfather, Chris made sure to never miss a sporting event, play, Chapel, or birthday party that involved his grandchildren. He also enjoyed gifting them with his favorite books and favorite “As Seen on TV” gadgets. Reading The Polar Express out loud to the grandkids on Christmas was his favorite tradition (we think he could still hear the bell).
A proud graduate of Leon High School (where he played varsity basketball), Chris attended Emory University, graduated from Florida State, and followed the Seminoles with a passion. He spent years as a certified public accountant and recently worked as the general manager of a local hotel.
Chris was wonderful in so many ways: warm, brilliant, thoughtful, humble, clever, and witty. No one was a quicker study; and he had the priceless gift of making people chuckle while at the same time making them think. He was a whiz at crossword puzzles and loved sharing a good comic strip. He loved to write–about summers spent in southern Illinois with a bevy of cousins and time spent with his family in western North Carolina at his parents’ cabin, Toad Hall–and he would often share these writings with his children. A gift they will always cherish.
His family was so happy he was on their team, and we grieve him so very deeply.
He is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Dr. Elston and Barbara Roady. He is survived by his three children who loved him dearly, Jennifer Roady-Lawson, Katherine Boland {Jamie}, and Christopher Roady, Jr. and their mother, Linda Roady. His six grandchildren, Everett, Eva, and Eliza Boland and Dylan, Rhys, and Zane Lawson will miss him so much.
He is also survived by his sister, Beth Lines {Earl} and brother, Stephen Roady {Celia}; three nephews, Matthew and Michael Lines {Rachael} and Peter Roady {Eliza}; and two nieces, Valerie Sands {Chris} and Laura Capito {Charles}.
The family will host a visitation on Friday, February 23, 2024 in the Fellowship Hall of Faith Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, Florida, from 2:00-4:00 PM. A private burial will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
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