Bob McLemore

Robert Lee "Bob" McLemore, 80, of Jackson passed away Monday, May 20, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Oct. 18, 1932, in Winona, Mo., one of eight children of John W. and Grace Baugh McLemore. He and Darlene Baudendistel-Cox were married July 25, 1987.

Bob attended Chaffee High School.

He joined the U.S. Navy on Jan. 2, 1952, and was assigned to the USS Juneau. He was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon and the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe Clasp. He was honorably discharged Dec. 16, 1955, and then served more than 32 years as a Seabee in the Navy Reserve.

He first worked on the railroad as a lineman out of East St. Louis, Ill. Thereafter, he was a route driver for King Quality Milk in Belleville, Ill., and then for Tom's Peanuts in the Festus, Mo., area. He was a custodian and bus driver for the public schools in Piedmont, Mo., and Chaffee, Mo., and retired from the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau where he was a store clerk. After retiring, he enjoyed volunteering in the cantina at the veterans home.

Bob was a member of New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson; Harold O. Grauel Masonic Lodge 672, Cape Rock Eastern Star Chapter 60 and Elks Lodge 639, all in Cape Girardeau; Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 and VFW Post 10495 in Jackson; and was a former Shriner.

Loving survivors include his wife of nearly 26 years, Darlene of Jackson; five children, Diana (Tad) Robinson of Nashville, Ga., Theresa (David) Hopkins of Palmyra, Mo., Robin (Chris) Miller of Annapolis, Mo., and twin sons, John (Vicki) McLemore and Joe (Jennifer) McLemore of Cape Girardeau; six stepchildren, Dana (Steve) Abel of Jackson, Diane (Paul) Kohm and Denise (Rick) Bohnert of Perryville, Mo., Dawn (Ronnie) Stewart of Columbia, Tenn., Darla Cox of Jackson and Don Cox Jr. of Cape Girardeau; 21 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and four siblings, Bessie Kynion of Marine, Ill., Donald (Erna) McLemore of Jackson, Shirley (Bill) Vance of Advance, Mo., and Wanda King of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Charles McLemore, Betty Green and an infant brother, Christopher McLemore.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. Harold O. Grauel Masonic Lodge will hold a Masonic service at 7 p.m., immediately followed by an American Legion service by the honor guard of Altenthal-Joerns Post. Friends also may call from 10 a.m. until time of service Friday at New McKendree United Methodist Church.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Jimmie Corbin officiating. A committal service with military honors will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the American Lung Association or the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.