By Emily Miller
REXBURG — When Chloe Royce opened her teeth-whitening business in Rexburg, she wanted to give it a name that meant something to her. “Poppy Teeth Whitening” was the perfect fit, honoring Royce’s grandfather, who had been a significant influence on her life.
“He introduced me to lots of my loves,” says Royce of her grandfather, Mark Whitemyer of Nampa. Those loves included music and performing arts, and Royce cherishes the times spent with her grandfather watching old musicals and listening to songs they both loved.
For about 13 years, 71-year-old Whitemyer has been battling Parkinson’s Disease. To honor her grandpa, Royce decided to donate 20% of her proceeds from April 4 to 11 to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, in celebration of World Parkinson’s Day on April 11.
According to the organization’s website, “Parkinson’s disease (PD) occurs when brain cells that make dopamine, a chemical that coordinates movement, stop working or die. … The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today.”
Whitemyer, a father to seven and a grandfather to 24, was a chiropractor for many years and physically active for as long as he was able. Royce says Whitemyer was a triathlete, and especially loved swimming because “he felt very light” in the water.
