12/05/2021
Roy’s life story shared by his family…10/20/40, one of the easiest birthdays to remember brought us George Lee Roy Kincaid. We know him as Roy, Dad or Grandpa. He was one of the earliest babies born at the new Collins Memorial Hospital in Knoxville, Iowa. Roy was the youngest of three children born to Kermit and Eva (Robinson) Kincaid.
Roy entered the Kincaid coal mining family as the little brother to sisters Verna and Carolyn. By all accounts, he was your typical little brother in the 1940’s. His sole concentration was bringing as much grief as possible to his older sisters with snakes and whatever else might terrify them. As the years progressed his childhood was filled with pet Bulldogs, BB Guns, bicycles and creek adventures with his cousins.
By high school, clearly, his focus had drifted to fast cars and all the long work hours it took to fund this new fascination. Everyone in the class of 1959 figured him to be destined to the life of a racecar driver. While he was the first Kincaid in generations to venture out of the coal mines, he didn’t land far from that line of dangerous work and became a heavy equipment operator on a bridge construction crew.
In 1962, a few years out of high school he met the love of his life, Alice Rae Smith, “scooping the loop” around the square in Knoxville. They were married the following fall after Alice’s graduation. The newlyweds followed bridge projects around Iowa, primarily down the Interstate 80 corridor. Their first-born son, Kevin Lee Roy, came soon after in December of 1963, born in Bettendorf, Iowa. A newborn, a small trailer and the prospect of multiple moves began conversations around a different line of work. By luck or by fate, Roy’s construction company was awarded the contract to build the longest bridge in Iowa just north of Knoxville. It was their chance to come home, and this would be their last bridge and his last lift as a crane operator.
Before he left, he made sure as the two sides of the bridge came together and final plankings were put into place, he would be the first person to cross Iowa’s newest bridge. His new field of work would be a detailed craftsman laying flooring in all sorts of settings. Primarily working with his brothers-in-law out of Smith’s Carpet & Decorating. This work would become a huge sense of pride for Roy. His abilities to create flawless installations led to a reputation of work excellence for the rest of his days.
During this time Roy & Alice added to their family in 1967 with another son, Kyle Edward, and in 1969, a daughter, Kristie Lynn, was added to the mix. Their family unit was now in place for the years ahead. These early years were filled with summer weekends on dirt bikes, fishing trips, pheasant hunting, and snowmobile trips for the entire family. Keeping 4-5 snowmobiles operational on a limited budget with rambunctious boys kept his mechanical skills sharp. One of his riding buddies said that he’d never seen a guy ride all day and work on them all night just to keep everything running. Most people would have just trailered up and gone home. Flooring installation was taking a serious toll on his body and some work-life changes needed to happen. Roy’s 2nd big career was nearly 20 years with 3M in Knoxville. He brought that same work dedication to 3M. This new work environment, however, allowed Roy to have co-workers and he enjoyed the pranks and laughs throughout the workday. While he held various positions there, what he really took away were new lifelong friends.
Roy’s list of hobbies and interests over the years could go on and on and on. He spent many years as a weekend farmer on 5 acres. Trying everything from pigs to cattle to rabbits to goats to chickens to Scottish Terriers. That five acres saw every use imaginable, and Roy always had a new endeavor to try. He became very active and accomplished in trapshooting, took more extensive fishing and hunting trips, and had many other interests.
He took the role of Grandpa very seriously. Roy’s grandchildren became his biggest source of pride and he loved them unconditionally. His retirement years were filled with being a great friend to all his buddies. Roy was always in for a laugh, and his friends from all walks of life were central to his day. His true joy in his final years were his friends at coffee time and in Knoxville Raceway suites. You couldn’t spend time with Roy without having a healthy laugh and hearing about his family.
On December 5, 2021, Roy passed away suddenly at the Knoxville Hospital and Clinics at the age of 81 years. Those left to honor his memory are his beloved wife Alice, three children and their families. They are:
Kevin and Tricia (Wells) Kincaid of Knoxville, Iowa
Kenzie, Kale, Kyle, and Johnna (Johnson) Kincaid of Knoxville, Iowa
Kaurie and Marko Marinkovich of Pella, Iowa
Luka, Mila, Kristie, and Doug Beary of Knoxville, Iowa
Abby and Mike Rector of Bondurant, Iowa, Stella, Luna Nolan Wilson and Katie Caughey of Knoxville, Iowa, George Raegan Beary of Knoxville, Iowa.
Of his original family, he leaves his sister Carolyn Matkovich of Des Moines, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Verna Douglas. Roy’s family and friends will miss him deeply. He lived his life on full speed and on his terms and that is how he will be remembered.
Visitation will be Friday, December 10, 2021, at the Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville.
The family will be present from 2-4 pm at Williams Funeral Home. A private family memorial service will be held at a later time. Visitation will be Friday, December 10, 2021 at the Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville.