Roy Killgore

Roy Roman Killgore

October 11, 1970 - December 30, 2022

Remarkable. Original. Yes. Respected. Optimistic. Magnetic. Ambitious. Noble.

This past Friday, our family and community suffered the sudden loss of Roy Roman Killgore, 52, a monolithic figure in all of our lives and hearts. Roy was a loving and selfless husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend, not to mention legendary coach, mentor, farmer, icon, and all-around superhero.

Roy was born in Santa Maria on October 11, 1970 and grew up in Nipomo. He graduated a proud Knight from St. Joseph High School in 1988, where he played football and baseball and was a scholastic athlete. He went on to Cal Poly, where he studied agribusiness, was president of the School of Agriculture, became an active member of AGR fraternity, and was named recipient of the Beck Award. Always seeking to evolve himself and his endeavors, Roy worked for several years in the family farming business before re-dedicating himself to his studies and earning a Master's Degree. His steadfast dedication to the industry made him a staple in the local farming community, and he became the owner of several ag companies, including San Ysidro and San Miguel farms, which he proudly ran with his father and sons.

Despite his work and accomplishments, none was greater than his family. In 1991, Roy married his high school sweetheart Vanessa, and for the rest of his life, his greatest pride and priority was his family and their boys, Roy Orion, 31, and Roman Hunter, 26. He was a devoted husband and father, the role model and person everyone strived to be. He did so much not only for his family, but for others without ever asking for anything in return. He was kind and generous with the best of intentions. He was the light at the end of the tunnel, a man that always saw hope and a solution to every problem. He was a tough hard-ass on the outside with the biggest heart on the inside. And despite his kid-like nature, no one was more of man than he was.

For the last 15+ years Roy coached football for his alma mater St. Joe's, mentoring countless youth and influencing the lives of innumerable players and families. In 2021, his devotion and philanthropy earned him SJHS's Alumni of the Year Award.

Roy was an avid fan of The Matrix, loved the music of U2 and all things 80s. He preferred DC over Marvel in Comics, but Marvel over DC in movies. He was a firm believer that sauce is boss and applied that philosophy to everything from family meals, to work lunches, and his newly developed love of the culinary arts. On the golf course, there was no one more unjustifiably confident in beating you. Meow.

Roy leaves an unsurpassed legacy and a large vacancy in all of our hearts. To say the lives of many people are forever changed by this loss is an understatement. The absence of his booming voice and laughter leaves us with a deafening silence. He is survived by his wife and sons, parents, siblings, and all who loved him.

A commemoration of Roy's life will be held on Friday, January 27, with a 1:00 pm mass at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church and a celebration to follow at the Santa Maria Country Club. Until then, Roy would tell everyone that it's all going to be ok and to go hug your family-Bap!

Visit www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com to leave a condolence for the family.