Robert L. Styer

July 1, 1920 – March 18, 2014

Robert L. (Bob) Styer, 93, passed away on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at Bishop Place Senior Living in Pullman, Washington. Bob was born on July 1, 1920 on a farm outside Colome, South Dakota. He was the second of nine children born to Royal and Hazel Styer. The family moved to Palouse, Washington in 1935 and Bob graduated from Palouse High School in 1939.   Bob worked for several farmers while in high school and into his early twenties. In 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the European Theater until the close of the war. He returned to Palouse and continued to work with several farmers in the area.

He married Dorothy Ardean (Dean) Sowl on March 25, 1948 in Vancouver, Washington. They lived in Palouse until 2003 when they moved to Bishop Place Senior Living in Pullman. They were married for 63 years when Dean passed away in 2011. They had three daughters: Dina, Linda, and Lana; and one son: Lee.

In addition to working for area farmers, Bob operated his own farm in the Eden Valley area west of Palouse, and operated a service station in Palouse. In 1955 he began working at the Potlatch Forests, Inc. mill in Potlatch, Idaho retiring in 1982 at the age of 62.

Bob loved animals – especially horses. One of his greatest enjoyments was driving his teams of ponies around town and giving his grandchildren pony rides. He also loved listening to his children play their accordions and band instruments. He was especially proud that Dina, Lana, and Lee all graduated from college. He indulged his love of agriculture by maintaining a garden every year until they moved to Pullman.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Dean; infant daughter Linda; his parents; and two brothers: Gerald and Marvin. He is survived by two daughters Dina (Jerry) Brannon of Malott, Washington; Lana (Craig) Shuman of Midlothian, Texas; and son Lee (Linda) of Henderson, Nevada; four grandchildren: Nick (Anna) Brannon, Tina Brannon, Timothy (Rita) Styer, and Andrea (Michael) Shaffer; five great-grandchildren: Daniel, Sofia, and John Brannon; and Carter and Carson Shaffer; two sisters: Helen Comstock and JoAnn Goetz; and four brothers: Stan, Gene, Dick, and Dennis Styer.

Viewing will be Friday, March 28 ^th from 9 AM to 6 PM at Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman, WA. The funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at the funeral home. Graveside services with Military Honors will follow the service at the Greenwood Cemetery in Palouse, WA. Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman, WA is caring for the family. Memorial donations are suggested to a favorite charity. Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com