Caring For The Family Of Roy Drury (K4DCT)

It’s with heavy hearts that we share with you all, the family, friends, and Amateur Radio community, that our dear friend, Roy Drury, K4DCT, lost his battle with health problems at 8:26pm April 1, 2020, becoming a silent key. Many of you are familiar with Roy and his wife Dawn, K2WLS, from their unselfish hours working in Emergency Management as volunteers. Roy had most recently served as Hillsborough County Emergency Coordinator, until his health limited his involvement. Dawn serves the Tampa Amateur Radio Club (TARC) as Member Services Chair, and works tirelessly with Hillsborough County ARES/RACES to train new hams, in addition to her Emergency Communications duties which stretch beyond Hillsborough County. The hours and days to come will be difficult for his wife Dawn, their children, Khristina and Jonathon (both Amateur Radio Operators), and granddaughter, Penelope, who ask for time to grieve and begin healing as a family. Roy has had extended hospitalizations this past year, wreaking havoc with family finances. Khristina’s career and income have been interrupted by COVID-19. We have organized this fundraiser to help Dawn, and her family, with the funeral expenses that they face, and also to give Dawn a bit of a financial support, as she grieves, and works through the financial realities of losing Roy’s income. As many of you know, Dawn is a T11 paraplegic, single leg amputee, and three-time cancer survivor. She is perhaps the strongest, most resilient woman you’ll ever know. But, during this time, we need to be strong for her, so she does not have to deal with unnecessary stress. We know that, in light of the global pandemic, finances are difficult for those whose employment has been affected. We need everyone who is able, especially those in the fraternity of Amateur Radio Operators, TARC and Hillsborough County ARES/RACES to donate to help Roy’s family. Even small amounts will add up to help Dawn, and their family through this difficult time. For those of you who don’t know the Drurys, Roy and Dawn have both been an integral part of the HAM community, serving the Emergency Communication needs of the Tampa Bay Region. They have done their part for the community, now the community needs to do their part for them. Thank you for your support of Dawn, Khrissy, Jonathon, and Penny. They need us now, and Roy’s life can best be honored by helping to care for those he loved most. Biff Craine, K4LAW