Edith Marie “Peewee” Thomason Royal, 98, passed away on August 26, 2024, at her home in Austin, Texas.

This matriarch of Texas Longhorn football was born October 27, 1925, on a Greer County, Oklahoma cotton farm under the cloud of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Edith Royal came from the humblest of beginnings, yet she and her husband Darrell K Royal, would grow in stature to become one of this country’s most influential couples.

From an early age, she looked after her three younger brothers, picked cotton in her daddy’s fields, and performed the household chores while her parents worked. Thus began her life-long commitment of service to others.

Edith met Darrell Royal, already a star athlete, one night in 1941, at a traveling skating rink in Hollis, Oklahoma. She had never seen a football game, and he had never had a girlfriend, but all that was about to change. “It was one of those love-at-first-sight deals,” Darrell said years later. “She’s the only girl I ever cared about.” They were married on July 26, 1944.

Edith loved being a wife to Darrell and mother to Marian, Mack, and David. Darrell’s careers in the Army Air Corps, as a football star at Oklahoma, and then as a successful college coach, saw the Royals move ten times in the first decade of their marriage. Whenever Darrell reported to his next coaching job, Edith was left to pack, corral the children, drive across the country, unpack, enroll the kids in school, set up house, meet the faculty, and assimilate into a new community. She described herself as “just a wife and mother”, yet both Darrell and Edith recognized the importance of her role in their partnership, which lasted for 68 years.

She was the consummate coach’s wife. While married to one of the most famous men in America, Edith mostly flew under the radar, taking care of everything at home while Coach Royal concerned himself with winning football games. She served as hostess at University of Texas faculty teas, welcomed recruits, attended PTA meetings and drove carpool, drew up the family budget and paid the bills. She did most of the parenting, yet still made time to accompany Darrell on a recruiting trip now and then.

As their children grew, Edith found more time for community involvement. She was a founder of Austin’s Center for Child Protection, served as an elder and deacon at her beloved Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, and served on the first board of trustees for the Austin chapter of Palmer Drug Abuse Program for Teens, eventually serving as President. That is where she discovered her “other” life’s work— educating others about drug and alcohol abuse and recovery. Edith spread the message of Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon, serving on the board of the Austin Recovery Center and leading the fundraising campaign for expansion of its facility. The Edith Royal Campus at Austin Recovery Center honored her dedication to the recovery community in Austin. Often referred to as the “community’s angel” and “a living saint,” Edith devoted herself to helping those in need, particularly those battling alcohol and drug addiction.

Edith had no desire to be in the limelight or to be recognized for her contributions, yet recognized she was. She was named an Austin Pillar of the Community by Zachary Scott Theatre and was named a Woman of Distinction by the Girls Scouts of Central Texas for being a role model for women’s leadership. Edith and Darrell’s service to their community was recognized with the Caritas of Austin Most Worthy Citizen Award.

After her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, she and others launched the Darrell K Royal Research Fund for Alzheimer’s Disease. Edith was recognized in the State of Texas Senate for her role as an advocate for Alzheimer’s education and research.

For almost 99 years, God blessed this earth with Edith Royal. She was authentic, with her deep Christian faith evident in all she said and did. She was generous with her affection, her time, her wisdom, and sharp wit. More importantly, she was generous with her acceptance and her forgiveness. Few people have made such an impact on their family, community, and friends.

Royal is survived by her son, Sammy Mack Royal and daughter-in-law April; son-in-law Abraham “Chic” Kazen, III; granddaughter Elena Royal-Trombetta Howard; grandsons Christian Kazen and David Kazen, Samuel Royal and wife Tatjiana; great-granddaughters Isabella and Alexandra Kazen, and Goldie Royal Howard; special friends Beany Trombetta and Sadie Trombetta; brother, Alfred “Goose” Thomason, Jr. She was preceded in death by her husband, Darrell K Royal; her daughter, Marian K Royal Kazen; her son David Wade Royal, and her parents Addie Mae and Alfred Marion “Cub” Thomason; brothers Charles Ray Thomason and Billy Wayne Thomason. The family is grateful to loyal friend and assistant Colleen Kieke, and longtime caregiver Briann Reynolds.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 3:00 pm at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, 7127 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas. Pallbearers are Beau Armstrong, Jim Rado, Marvin Bendele, Bill Hall, Bill Schneider, and Randy McEachern. Honorary Pallbearers are Mack Brown, Anthony “Curly” Ferris, Abraham “Chic” Kazen, III, David McWilliams, Willie Nelson, Ben Crenshaw, and Matthew McConaughey.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Darrell K Royal Fund for Alzheimer's Research online at www.dkrfund.org or mailed, care of Dallas Foundation 3963 Maple Avenue, #390, Dallas, TX 75219, or to Caritas of Austin online at www.caritasofaustin.org/donate-give/ or to the Center for Child Protection online at https://centerforchildprotection.org/donate/.