09/06/2026
Roya Beatrice James of Lapwai, Idaho passed away on Friday, September 4, 2026. Roya was a member of the Nez Perce Tribe and she was also a descendant of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. After a long and courageous battle with cancer, she passed away surrounded by love.
Roya was born in Lewiston, Idaho to Stella (Allen) Charles and Roy James on September 23, 1966. Roya was named after her late grandmother, Beatrice (McAtty) Lawrence. As the first grandchild of the family, they had a close relationship over their lifetimes. She graduated from Lapwai High School in 1985. In high school, she won the title of “Queen” for the Nez Perce Nations Basketball Tournament. She also played high school sports both softball and volleyball and was very proud of to be the Class of 1985.
She attended Haskell University in Kansas and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She loved to travel and lived in several areas across the United States. She resided in Vancouver, Washington for 10 years and worked at Macy’s, Old Navy, and Walmart in Portland, Oregon. She also worked for the Nez Perce Camas Express in Wi******er, Idaho.
Roya adored spending time with her two grandchildren, Keyiah (Ya Ya) Gill and Garrett (Son Son) Gill, Jr., both of Portland. She was an outstanding auntie to all her nieces and nephews and was often the favorite. She also had many friends, was always smiling, laughing and on the go. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and cruising to search for Big Foot. Everywhere Roya travelled, she made new friends, renewed old friendships, and left fond memories. She was a fan of New Mexico Lobos, Golden State Warriors, and Las Vegas Raiders.
Roya is survived by her daughter, Kateri James; grandchildren, Keyiah and Garrett Gill, Jr.; mother, Stella Charles of Lapwai; brothers, Jose Oyenque of Albuquerque, Cecil Charles and Jamie Thomas of Lapwai, and sister, Wendy Thomas of Spokane, WA; brothers by custom, Maynard and Tony Lavadour; aunties, Judy Allen, Loretta Penney, and Wilma Lawrence and uncle Michael Dean Lawrence; and many other cousins and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her father, Roy James, Sr.; step-father, Kenneth Charles; brothers, Roy James Jr., and Little Brother; maternal grandparents, Beatrice (McAtty) Lawrence and Mathias Allen; paternal grandparents, Eva (Williams) Lavadour and Stanislaus James; aunts and uncles, H. James Allen, Melvin Pierre, Mose Pierre, Lucinda Pierre, Richard Lawrence, Gordon Lawrence, Kimberlee Lawrence, William Lawrence, Jr., and E. Susie Osequera.
Funeral services will be on Monday, September 7, 2026 at 11AM, located at Malcom’s Brower-Wann Funeral Home, 1711 18th Street, Lewiston, Idaho. Lunch will follow at St. Kateri Catholic Hall, in Lapwai, Idaho. Interment will take place at a later date. The family of Roya wishes to extend our sincere appreciation to St. Joseph’s Cancer Center and all medical providers who assisted with her care.
Nez Perce Tribe
Nimiipuu Health