Patty Darrow Royal died March 26 after suffering from leukemia for years. She was 80.

Chilmarkers remember Patty and her sister Katy Upson as the Darrow twins. They, with their parents and siblings May Haynes and Debby Richmond, summered at Squibnocket Point during the 1950s and 1960s. Their good memories of those times include being entertained by the sheep and the farm horse Chief, and riding the oxen Tom and Jerry. They also enjoyed parties in “the shack” at the end of the point.

Patty was unique and strong. She was committed to medical research as a profession and dedicated her life to securing better food, both with animal proteins and grains. She created her own company and audited livestock companies. She made a difference in the quality control of what people eat and how they live.

She is survived by her son Stephen Royal of California, daughter Mary Royal Little of New Mexico and twin sister Katy Upson of Vineyard Haven.

She will be interred at Abel’s Hill Cemetery in Chilmark. Other funeral arrangements are incomplete.