Madeline
Hartley Royalty was born on September 22, 1996 in Flint Michigan. She was a
dreamer, a song bird, and a true daughter of God. Madeline grew up in the small
town of Linden Michigan. Her household as a child consisted of her two loving
parents and her older brother. She was a country girl at heart! She delighted
in the outdoors as a child and had a wondrous love of nature throughout her
life. She loved to play pretend. She and
Her brother would adventure around their families 12 acres of land pretending that they were Indians and letting their imaginations run wild. As a result she developed a vivid imagination at
a young age. She resided in Linden until she was about 10 years old. In the
summer of 2007, her family moved to Texas where her father had obtained
job in the oil industry. Once in Texas she remained there for the next 8 years
of her life. She was homeschooled by her mother most of her life. She studied
at home till her junior year of high-school when she started attending college
classes. As a homeschooler she was kept
to herself a great deal and developed an introverted personality. Her time at
home, however, also helped to nurture her creative mind. Some of her favorite
hobbies growing up consisted of: reading, painting, sewing, crocheting, playing
the ukulele/guitar/piano, singing, and writing songs. She was always encouraged
to use her imagination to the fullest! One of her life mottos was “you can teach
someone to memorize facts, but you can’t teach creativity”. She lived up to
this motto throughout her life by striving to utilize her imagination in every
situation she faced
After she graduated high school, in 2014, Madeline moved to Oklahoma and attended Oral Roberts University. There she studied graphic design, film, video and all other aspects of media. Her one dream in life was always simply this: to make beautiful things. While studying at ORU her creativity blossomed like never before. On top of her academic studies she was a part of the schools worship band, and led worship at her university every week. Her love of singing was another facet of her life that always would follow her. Her voice was admired by all who heard her, and she used it inspire people. After college she moved back to Texas to be close to her family. It was then that she was married to her true love! She and her husband (who was a gifted musician) traveled around the country playing music together. He wrote the music, she wrote the lyrics, and they sang in perfect harmony! They played only small venues and churches, but wherever they went they were loved by many. Soon the traveling couple settled down as the pastors of a small church. At her church Madeline double tasked as the church’s worship leader, media person, and pastor’s wife. She moved from that church to two other churches before she and her husband retired. She continued to make videos, graphics, and music on the side while she was a pastor’s wife and used her mind to the fullest! She was the mother of two children. Her first child was a boy named Edmund, and her second a girl named February. She raised her children with the same emphasis on creativity that her mother used in raising her. She encouraged them to dream, create, and imagine for themselves. Her parenting philosophy was that she was not raising children, she was raising adults. Her main goal was for her children to be independent, well rounded, and intelligent human beings. And she wanted most of all for her children to have their own personal relationship with Jesus. After retirement she and her husband moved to Ludington Michigan. There they lived in a cozy cottage by the sea. She spent her days doing all the things she loved most. She was free to paint, draw, sing, and create to her very heart’s content. Her grandchildren visited her often and she spent the rest of her life as just your average kooky grandmother!
After she graduated high school, in 2014, Madeline moved to Oklahoma and attended Oral Roberts University. There she studied graphic design, film, video and all other aspects of media. Her one dream in life was always simply this: to make beautiful things. While studying at ORU her creativity blossomed like never before. On top of her academic studies she was a part of the schools worship band, and led worship at her university every week. Her love of singing was another facet of her life that always would follow her. Her voice was admired by all who heard her, and she used it inspire people. After college she moved back to Texas to be close to her family. It was then that she was married to her true love! She and her husband (who was a gifted musician) traveled around the country playing music together. He wrote the music, she wrote the lyrics, and they sang in perfect harmony! They played only small venues and churches, but wherever they went they were loved by many. Soon the traveling couple settled down as the pastors of a small church. At her church Madeline double tasked as the church’s worship leader, media person, and pastor’s wife. She moved from that church to two other churches before she and her husband retired. She continued to make videos, graphics, and music on the side while she was a pastor’s wife and used her mind to the fullest! She was the mother of two children. Her first child was a boy named Edmund, and her second a girl named February. She raised her children with the same emphasis on creativity that her mother used in raising her. She encouraged them to dream, create, and imagine for themselves. Her parenting philosophy was that she was not raising children, she was raising adults. Her main goal was for her children to be independent, well rounded, and intelligent human beings. And she wanted most of all for her children to have their own personal relationship with Jesus. After retirement she and her husband moved to Ludington Michigan. There they lived in a cozy cottage by the sea. She spent her days doing all the things she loved most. She was free to paint, draw, sing, and create to her very heart’s content. Her grandchildren visited her often and she spent the rest of her life as just your average kooky grandmother!
Some would say that
Madeline Royalty didn’t accomplish much throughout her life, but she felt differently.
She felt that her greatest accomplishment was simply in maintaining her relationship
with her Father (God). She also delighted in the thought that she helped at
least one person find the truth of Jesus Christ, and that throughout her life
she had created many beautiful things to leave behind. Knowing these things she
could leave the world confident that she had indeed made a difference. What the
people she left behind will remember about Madeline is her passion for whatever
she put her mind to, Her loyalty to those around her, Her weirdness, her unique
view of the world, her voice, her songs, her creative mind and her loving
heart. They will all miss her hugs, and her comforting words but they will carry
her memory in their hearts forever.
Note from the Author: The above is my very own eulogy. I realized a lot about myself while I was writing this. I discovered who it is I really want to be remembered as, and what I really want my life to mean. It was a truly eye opening experience. Just know that the above is not the complete truth. I am of course not actually dead, or even married yet, but the things I wrote are the true wishes of my heart so don't read them lightly. After reading this eulogy you have read me. You know who I am....
No comments:
Post a Comment