A Telford family will spend this Christmas without the man they most cherished—Dad, Grandad, and husband Roy Owen-Jones, known to many as Elvis for his legendary love of the King of Rock 'n' Roll. He passed away on 29 December 2024 at the age of 82 after a kidney blockage, leaving behind a widow who has spent a lifetime by his side.
His son, Darren, describes the season ahead as profoundly disorienting: “This will feel strange, a Christmas without him. The big moments have all carried a heavy absence since his illness began. My parents were together for 55 years, which has made Mum’s grief even more acute. She misses him deeply and is simply taking it day by day.”
The family chose not to celebrate Christmas the previous year while Dad was hospitalized. This year, they’re encouraging Mum to set up a tree and festive decorations again and plan to stick together as a family to lean on one another through the holidays.”
Roy Owen-Jones’s kidney problems began in the mid-1990s when one kidney had to be removed due to childhood damage. His condition progressed in the 2000s as he battled both prostate cancer and emphysema. Darren recalls a proud man who resisted help and kept much private, even from those closest to him: “Dad was young at heart and very active before serious illness took hold in his sixties. He loved sports and gardening, but the last decade of his life limited his movements and left him frustrated as his mobility declined, while Mum became his caregiver.”
His health struggles included kidney stones, which he kept hidden until a collapse revealed a kidney blockage. He spent three months in hospital before he died, enduring multiple procedures that ultimately couldn’t save him.
In a heartfelt tribute, Darren and his daughter Megan kept Roy’s memory alive through an Elvis-inspired fundraiser. In March, the pair donned Elvis outfits and ran the Ironbridge Half Marathon, raising more than £1,000 for Kidney Research UK. Darren explains the motivation: “After Dad’s passing, we wanted to give back to improve treatments for others. Megan and I are runners, and she suggested the half marathon to support Kidney Research UK. We wanted to make the challenge personal, so we dressed as Elvis—my Dad adored him and some even thought he was his doppelgänger. He copied the famous hairstyle, dyed his hair jet black, and loved flamboyant outfits. He collected Elvis memorabilia, and our funeral featured several Elvis tributes. The costumes added a playful, if tricky, twist to the run, and the overwhelming support and fundraising were truly amazing.”
