Royce Edwin Hawley was born 7 December 1909 in Rich Creek, Mercer County, WV to William Garfield Hawley and Ora Pearl Walker Hawley. Royce was the second of 11 children born to this couple all of which lived to adulthood. Royce grew up in West Virginia, Pisgah Forest, NC and Stanley, NC. He and his brothers worked for their father sawing, cutting and marketing lumber. In 1930 Royce married Louise Rhyne of Stanley. They continued to live in Stanley the rest of their lives with Royce working for and becoming part-owner of the Hawley Lumber Company. Royce and Louise had 4 children all of whom survive them. They attended Christ's Lutheran Church, the church in which Louise was baptised. Royce died 14 April 1982 in Gastonia, NC. He was buried behind Christ's Lutheran Church in the Stanley Cemetery.

From 15 Apr 1982 The Gastonia Gazette obituary. "STANLEY -Royce Edwin Hawley, 72, 509 S. Main St., died Wednesday in Gaston Memorial Hospital. He was owner and operator of Hawley Lumber Co. until his retirement. Hawley was a member of Christ's Lutheran Church, where he had served as Sunday School Superintendent and church council member. Survivors include his wife, Louise Elizabeth Rhyne Hawley; a son, William R. (Bill) Hawley of Stanley; three daughters, Martha H. Bowman and Pat Koehler both of Stanley, and Frances H. Walker of Hickory; his mother, Mrs. W. G. Hawley of Stanley; six sisters, Thelma Dunn of Charlotte, Eva Wallace, Helen Rouse, Esta Jamison, Dorothy Love and Lucille Rhyne, all of Stanley; four brothers, Harry W., Linberg, Bobby and W. G. Hawley Jr., all of Stanley, and 13 grandchildren. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. John E. Wertz at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Christ's Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 nto 9 tonight at Carothers Funeral Home, Stanley. Memorials may be made to Christ's Lutheran Church, Stanley."