Roy Bunker Hope died on Saturday, Dec. 29 at the Falmouth Hospital surrounded by family.

Roy and his twin brother Robert were born at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on Jan. 18, 1939. Roy lived most of his life on the Vineyard and retired to Bourne in the past 10 years.

After graduation from the Tisbury High School, he entered the United States Air Force and was stationed for five years in Kansas and Germany as a radar operator.

He returned to the Island from his duty in the service and soon thereafter began his career with the utility company ComElectric as a lineman. Fortunately for him, in those days they didn’t have GPS, because the big yellow trucks could often be found parked at Linda Jean’s or the Airport Diner or wherever they served hot coffee. He retired from keeping the lights on in 1997.

Roy married Elizabeth (Betsy) Healey in 1965. Together, they had three children — Roy, Brenda, and David.

Roy met his second wife Sherrill (Sherry) McMorrow in 1976 at the Ocean View Restaurant after she accidentally tripped him. With her three daughters and his two sons and daughter, they became the Brady Bunch for the next 42 years. Roy was known as Big Roy to his stepdaughters and in later years as Pa.

Back during a time when there was a bit more of South Beach, many summer weekends included four-wheeling and cookouts with all the kids. For almost 10 years, until 1997, he and Sherry owned and ran The Last Resort food truck at the Big Bridge.

As an Island boy, Roy grew up with a love for the outdoors, hunting and fishing. he always looked forward to the Derby, and although a place at the podium eluded him, Roy won Sportsman of the Year in 1979. He was present along with Sherry and his son Roy at one of the Derby’s most legendary moments — the Columbus Day Blitz of 1981.

Fall, a time he truly enjoyed, was spent with his sons, friends, and family at hunting camps in New York, West Virginia, and Iowa. His homemade chowder and boiled dinners were always favorites at camp. Roy took his last stand in Iowa on Nov. 10, 2017.

Roy loved his children with all his heart and did his best to support and steer them through life. He enjoyed his grandchildren very much and went to many youth hockey games. Some of his very last words were “God bless my kids.”

God bless you Dad. Safe journey.

He was predeceased by his parents, Clinton (Curly) Irvin Hope and Evelyn May Bunker, as well as his brother, twin Robert Irvin Hope.

He is survived by his wife Sherrill Hope of Bourne; his sister Marcia Hope Merrill of Vineyard Haven; his children Roy Clinton Hope of West Tisbury, David Hope of Bourne and Brenda Hope of Sarasota, Fla.; stepchildren Michelle McMorrow and Brenda McMorrow of Bourne, and Lee McMorrow of St. Petersburg, Fla; and many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.