Robert Harris

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Robert "Bob" Lewis Harris, 56, of Chaffee died Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Robert Lewis Harris, known to all of his family and friends as Bob, was born on Dec. 24, 1944, to Robert "Smoky" Harris and Marie Harris. He was the third of six children, the first of three sons.

Bob attended Chaffee Schools where he participated in baseball and football. He graduated from Chaffee High School in 1962. He immediately joined the U.S. Navy and served his country for four years. He was stationed all four years in Norfolk, Va.

Upon returning home, he married his high-school sweetheart, Virginia "Ginny" Hindman, on Sept. 3, 1966, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. They were blessed with one daughter, Regina. He was also a very devoted and loving grandfather.

Bob opened his own real estate appraisal business, Bob Harris Appraisal Service, in 1982. Ginny joined him in the business in 1994.

He ran his business proudly and successfully until his health no longer allowed him to.

He served as a city councilman for the city of Chaffee. He was a member of the St. Ambrose Catholic Church and St. Ambrose Men's Club.

He had quite a few hobbies, some of which were fishing, deer hunting, antique shopping, watching old movies and westerns and working crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. He always loved a challenge.

Bob was a man of few words but had a very kind and compassionate heart. He had a very strong heart that allowed him to give his enemy, cancer, a very determined and courageous fight. However, for reasons hard to understand by all those who love him, he lost that battle on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2001.

His wife, Virginia, and two granddaughters of the home, Tiffany and Macey Bowman, and his daughter Regina Holt and her husband, Don, of Vandalia, Mo., survive Bob. He also is survived by his mother, Marie Harris of Vandalia, Mo., and his brothers and sisters Judy Slinkard, Doris Bradford, Dean Harris, Sue Giltner, all of Vandalia, and Rusty Harris of Santa Fe., Mo. A loving "second family," the Hindman family, also survives him. He had many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and aunts and uncles who also survive. His grandparents, his father, Robert Harris, his father-in-law, Clarence Hindman, and one niece, Robyn Hailey, preceded him in death.

Bob leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness and many hearts filled with love and memories that will be forever treasured.

Friends may call the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Mo., after 4 p.m. today. Parish prayers will begin at 7 p.m. today.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Ambrose Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Friday, officiated by Father Ralph Duffner. Burial will immediately follow at the St. Ambrose Catholic Cemetery in Chaffee.