The Rev. Royce D. Elms, 70, of Amarillo died Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010.

Services were at 1 p.m. Thursday, December 2, 2010 in The Church at Quail Creek with the Rev. N.P. Urshan of Indianapolis and the Rev. Tom Foster of Dallas officiating. Burial was at Llano Cemetery East. Arrangements by Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St.

The Rev. Elms was born April 27, 1940, in Comanche to Pauline Estelle Gressett and Finley Milton Elms. When he was a small boy, the family moved to San Diego, where he lived until graduating from high school.

Under the teachings of the Rev. David F. Gray at Revival Tabernacle in San Diego, the Rev. Elms felt the call of the ministry on his life and after graduation from high school; he became an ordained minister. He traveled all across the United States on the evangelistic field, preaching the gospel to thousands.

He met the love of his life, Annette Ruth Urshan, in 1960 in Indianapolis. They were married Oct. 1, 1962, at Calvary Tabernacle in Indianapolis. Together they traveled the United States on the evangelistic field ministering to thousands with preaching and music. They settled in Los Angeles in 1968 to start Harvest Tabernacle. This was the first church to be started under the Home Missions Division of the United Pentecostal Church.

Then in 1970, the Rev. Elms felt the call of God on his life to Amarillo. He and his family moved to Amarillo in November 1970, where he became the pastor of First United Pentecostal Church of Amarillo, later to become Jubilee Apostolic Church.

Numerous pastors and ministers came out of his ministry. He had a ministry of faith and healing and preached on Harvest time radio broadcast and at the United Pentecostal Church general conference. He loved the ministry and mentored many pastors and preachers. He taught yearly courses on ministerial ethics to ministers in training.

He will be sorely missed. He was a wonderful husband, brother, father and grandfather, pastor and man of God. Our heart aches but we know that he lived for this moment just to be at his Heavenly Father's side.

Survivors include his wife, Annette Elms of Amarillo; three daughters, Deborah Rauh and husband William, Jeana Rankin and husband Ron, and Rolonda Carrington and husband Nathan, all of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren; three brothers, Bernard Elms and wife Sandy of Los Angeles, David Elms and wife Linda of Charlotte, N.C., and Wendell Elms and wife Linda of Lufkin; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to Jubilee Apostolic Church, 5804 Eric Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106.

Please see the Royce Elms Memorial Video at http://www.vimeo.com/18163381

Please listen to the last song he wrote. "By the Grace of God"