Roy K. Daum

Roy K. Daum, 78, of Lacey Township, died February 25, 2025. He was born in Neptune Township and had resided for many years in Wall Township, and before that Freehold, before moving to Lacey Township more recently.
Roy graduated from Freehold High School, where he played football, baseball and wrestling. He earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Horticulture from Ohio State University and was a proud Buckeye football fan.
Roy grew up on his family's farm near Daum Road in Manalapan, enjoyed 4-H club as a child, and was a farmer at heart through and through. He was the proud co-founder of Four Seasons Nursery and Landscape Company in Manalapan, which he affectionately always called "the farm". He and his brother Henry borrowed "corn crib money" from their parents to start the business in the 1970s, and grew it through many years of hard work and dedication. Roy had an incredible work ethic, a gentle heart, a quiet patience, a hearty laugh, and always a kindly twinkle in his eye. He loved and was beloved by animals and always had a dog by his side. Roy was an avid skier who taught his children how to ski shortly after they could walk, and some of the family's happiest memories were at their ski house near Windham Mountain.
Roy is survived by his loving wife of almost 50 years, Nancy Daum, who has been steadfastly by his side caring for him throughout his long battle with Alzheimer's; by his daughter and son, and son-in-law and daughter-in-law: Casey Daum Nakata and Darren Nakata of Portland, Oregon, and Beau and Elizabeth Daum, of Cranford, New Jersey; and by his grandchildren, Jonathan, Christopher, Beatrix and Max. Also surviving are his siblings Carolyn Kaempffer, Peter Daum and Linda Brown; his brother Henry predeceased him in 2008.
Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 1 to 3 p.m.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to 4-H or the ASPCA.