Robert Jones "Bob" Harper Jr.

Mr. Harper was born Sept. 2, 1939, in Memphis, TN, to Robert and Dorothy (Ward) Harper, Sr.

Although he faced heart-related health issues starting at a young age, he led an active life, and his proudest accomplishments included attaining the status of Eagle Scout and gaining membership in the Council Scouts of Kia Kima and the Order of the Arrow.

He attended Treadwell High School in Memphis, and graduated from (then) Memphis State University in 1963, with a degree of Bachelor of Business Administration.

He began his professional life with a 16-year career with Dobbs House, Inc. in Memphis. He held leadership positions in the departments of Property Management, Purchasing and Marketing, and was city manager over 18 Steak 'n Egg Kitchen sites. He transitioned to a career in commercial real estate in 1980, with Allen & O'Hara, Inc., then began his final, 27-year career as a business broker in 1982, at VR Business Brokers (Colgate and Associates, Inc.). The continual recognition he received for his professional accomplishments made his family very proud.

He was a member of Bellevue Baptist Church, where he was active in the church Seniors group. He never met a stranger, and made many additional dear friends through Bartlett Seniors, as well as the Young in Heart group at Waypoint Baptist Church.

He was a cheerful, generous, welcoming, brave, and eternally-optimistic man, quick with a smile and a story. He traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad with his wife, Kay, by car, plane, ship and train, and he especially enjoyed their trips to Alaska.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kay Harper; his sister Shirley (Harper) McGoff of Memphis; two sons, Bobby (JoAnn) of Huntsville, AL and Jerry (Tracy) of Mindoro, WI; grandson Andrew Harper of Huntsville, AL; four brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.

There will be no formal arrangements at this time.

Should friends and family desire, contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital would be appreciated.