From the Petoskey News-Review August 15, 2002

Roy Lancaster, 87, died Aug. 14, 2002, at his Petoskey home. Roy was born Dec. 26, 1914, in Bloomington, Ill. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University, but left to earn a living during the Depression. Very involved in the labor and socialist movements of the 1930s, Roy worked as an organizer for a number of labor unions, including the United Mine Workers and the Fur and Leather Workers. He organized mine, chemical, and mine workers in Appalachia, as well as tannery workers in Northern Michigan. Roy also served as an aide to John L. Lewis, founder of the C.I.O. Following World War II service with the U.S. Army in the Pacific, Roy moved to Detroit, where he married Donnie Lancaster in 1948. Roy and Donnie started and owned a number of businesses in Dearborn and Detroit, most notably the Dearborn Guide, a weekly newspaper, and bar/restaurants including the Woodworth House, Pour quois Pas, the Breakers and Chaim Sweeney's. Following retirement in 1984, Roy and Donnie moved to Petoskey in 1986, where their daughter, Martha, lived. Roy enjoyed traveling, reading and discussing current events and was an active member of the Democratic Party. Although Roy became increasingly disabled and homebound in recent years, he retained his interest in liberal politics and world affairs. Roy is survived by his wife, Donnie, in Petoskey, and his daughter, Martha Lancaster, and her husband, Doug Fuller, of Harbor Springs. He enjoyed and appreciated the care and companionship of many care-givers, including Deb Klueger, Kiyoski Mitsuiti and Margaret Avery. There will be no service. Roy has donated his body to Michigan State University for anatomical studies. Memorial gifts may be directed to Hospice of the Straits, 761 Lafayette, Cheboygan, Mich. 49721, or the MS Association of America, 706 Haddenfiled Road, Cherry Hill, N.J., 08002.
Arrangements were provided by Charles G. Parks Funeral Home in Petoskey.