Obituary of Robert Smith McIntyre

11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Tues. Nov. 20, 2007 at the church Robert Smith McIntyre 1917 – 2007 On November 14, 2007, at 12:45, the beloved Patriarch of our family peacefully slipped the bonds of earth with his bride of 71 years at his side. Robert was born on May 31, 1917 in Portland, Oregon to Archie Alexander Smith and Audrey Karen (Saunders) McIntyre. He was the oldest of nine children, 5 brothers and 3 sisters. As a boy, he moved with his family to Hover, Washington, where he attended school and graduated from Hover High School in a class of 12. Shortly after graduating, he met Elsie Lewis of Kennewick, Washington, who became his child bride at the tender age of 14 years and 11 months old. Together they have lived through the Great Depression, Wars, and the birth and the raising of 8 lively spirits. Home was always where the family was. He spent many hours telling stories of the many places they lived and things they had experienced. As his children we were fortunate enough to live close by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins from both sides of the family, and the endless holidays and family reunions with a very large family are forever etched in our memories. Robert experienced many careers in his lifetime, most of which involved building relationships with his customers. He has a list of friends longer than any of us will ever know. He has worked at everything from a farmhand, to delivery driver, and business owner. He even spent a short stint as a laborer on the Grand Coulee Dam project, a US Postal Worker, and a bus driver for workers at the Hanford Nuclear Plant. He and his family also owned and worked several businesses together, including the Hover Store/Gas Station/Post Office, Laney’s Market in West Richland, Washington, house to house bakery delivery business in the Tri Cities, Jackpot Mini Marts in Poulsbo, Potlatch, Gorst and Spanaway, and most of the members of the Thurston County Community, will remember him and his son Jack from Saucy’s Pizza and Deli on Yelm Highway in Lacey, where he finally retired in 1996. All of his children probably have memories of going to work with Dad – he took his children to work long before the invention of 'Take Your Child to Work Day'. In a large family, it was his way of spending one on one time with us. He spent many hours of his short retired life working at his computer. He worked diligently in the Name Extraction Program for the church Genealogy Records, doing up to 100 or more names on some days. In his younger years he and Elsie loved to dance, they would often go out to a local Grange Hall, sometimes with grown children and spouses in tow, to take in the Saturday night dance. Of all his accomplishments, his greatest gift and legacy to his very large (larger than the Osmond’s, but not nearly as musically talented) family, is his love of the Lord and his ever willingness to share the Gospel with anyone. He never left any doubt that you were welcomed and loved by the head of the family – we were each one his favorite something or other. Like a quilt, we are very colorful, individual pieces, all part of a beautiful larger creation. Robert is survived by his wife Elsie; sons, Larry (Sharon) McIntyre, Jackie (Judy) McIntyre, Gary McIntyre; daughters, Judith McIntyre, Debra (Gary) Bowman; 25 grandchildren, 66 great grandchildren, 16 great-great grandchildren, (assorted spouses); his brothers, Roy McIntyre and Charles McIntyre; and his sister Betty Wilson. He was preceded in death by sons, Robert, Lonnie and Donald and daughter-in- law, Kyoko (Ruby) Yoshihara McIntyre; and having lived 90 years, by many others in his family waiting for him on the other side. In Lieu of flowers, if you wish, you may make a donation to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints / Missionary Fund. Everyone is invited to share their memories by clicking on the "View Guestbook" link below.