Buscombe, Royal 1919 2011. The oldest of 5 children, Katherine Royal Kee was born to Albert and Lena Kee in Toronto, Ontario. Royal graduated from Victoria College at University of Toronto, and earned a Masters degree from Bryn Mawr. Royal married William (Bill) Buscombe in Toronto in 1942. In 1952 Bill and Royal and their young family emigrated to Australia where Bill took a position as an astronomer at the Commonwealth Observatory, which later became Mount Stromlo Observatory. In 1968 the couple settled in Evanston where Bill taught at Northwestern University. Royal was an outstanding student who strived for knowledge throughout her life. She strived too for depth in worship. Royal was a long-standing member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and of the Pan Pacific & Southeast Asia Women's Association where she co-founded the Chicago chapter. Among her many pursuits she volunteered in the archeology division of the Field Museum, and later at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian. Royal brought insight, generosity, joy, courage, acceptance, humor, love, and belief in the goodness of others to life. By embracing these qualities in our lives, she will live forever. Beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Royal is survived by 7 of her 8 children; 11 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren and missed by many. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 11 am at Evanston Friends Meeting, 1010 Greenleaf St, Evanston, Illinois.
Published in Chicago Sun-Times on June 3, 2012
