Robert E. Doan

Bob Doan was born April 24, 1921 in Silver City, New Mexico. His parents anticipated his arrival with great joy and loved him unconditionally. From an early age he learned the worth of family, laughter, storytelling, and a lifelong love for New Mexico. His earliest memory was also his favorite: cuddled between his happy parents in a big bed, listening to his dad read aloud the comic strips. Although he lost his dad at an early age, an event that greatly marked his life, his love of his parents and his big brother, Don L. Doane, served him well and never faded throughout his life.

Growing up in Alamogordo during the depression years wasn’t easy but held many happy memories. Bob worked before and after school at the corner drug store, achieved top grades, became an avid reader, collected stamps, and gave willingly to his mother who worked 12 hour shifts as a nurse in a small Hispanic hospital which served those unable to afford a larger facility; thus, his love of medicine and helping the less fortunate came naturally. The financial difficulties resulting from his dad’s death were eased by grand family Christmases, his devoted grandfather, his fun loving cousins, and many adventures in the mountains and White Sands.

He met his first wife, Jo Dollins, in that old fashioned, quaint drug store. They were married shortly before Bob was shipped overseas, where he served in the Air Force and achieved the rank of Captain aboard a B-52. Four years later, just after settling back home in Alamogordo, in a house built by his grandfather; he and Jo remembered the day he was recalled to Korea, describing it as ‘the saddest day of all.” Although willing, he not only left Jo, he left a baby girl named Sharon, and his little boy, Rob, whom he realized later silently worried much too much about his safety. Although in later years Bob proudly told his more positive and even funny ‘war stories,’ often at the request of his granddaughter Katharine, he also did much pondering and dreaming of a world that perhaps someday will find a better way of solving its problems.

Finally back home from service, and in search of the security he dreamed would send his children to college, an experience he had longed for but was unable to have, Bob and Jo moved to Wilburton, Oklahoma, and into many years of hard work at Latimer State Bank. He was a well-known figure in that little town, known for a joker as well as a competent businessman. His life, in short, was busy! He was very active then and later in the RLDS church where he often said he met the best friends of his life. He led the huge church reunions at Robbers Cave State Park for 20 years and loved remembering the stories of those hot, dusty, wonderful days.. He raised gorgeous roses, searched for arrowheads, collection. Hobbies were not only entertainment;; they were his best therapy. Later he added wood carving, and many children, including his granddaughter Bella and great granddaughter Mykah, have been gifted with these wonderful little wooden animals. It must be added that in Wilburton Bob also proudly went to Rob’s every football game and track meet, and Sharon’s every recital and music contest. His first granddaughter, Lorin was also born during these years, and her visits were celebrated more than Christmas! As stated earlier,, he was busy!

Following the intense Wilburton years, Bob and Jo moved to Oklahoma City where Bob became a traveling salesman for Globe Life Insurance. These years brought a great surprise to Bob. He at long last discovered that he was good at what he did! Traveling together to many small towns and banks, he and Jo sought out small town cafes. They also enjoyed a wide circle of friends in the OKC area churches. They spent much time at Sharon and Pamela’s home in the country, working the land and loving their wonderful little granddaughters, #2 and #3… Katharine and Channing. The fact they were all females delighted him. In later years, Bob loved saying “I have 4 granddaughters, you know, and now I even have a young great granddaughter!” Gradually Bob happily claimed 3 more adopted daughters: Pamela….Becca…. and Rae…. Each of whom he loved, liked and genuinely respected; and, in returned 3 more daughters loved and cared for him in countless ways.

The intervening years of Jo’s illness were sad ones and there’s little more needs to be said. After caring for her in every way he knew how, Bob joyfully began a new chapter of life. He re-met an old and dear friend, Judy Lewis, and soon their genuine friendship developed into marriage. Their years together were spent… once again...in church work, but also in taking wonderful vacations to beautiful places. Bob continued his love affair with New Mexico and greatly enjoyed sharing cliff dwellings, the White Sands, and “REAL Mexican food” with Judy. Their travels were, indeed, a wonderful retirement time for him.

The ending of this busy life’s story doesn’t need much description either. Bob’s desire to die peacefully in his sleep as his mother had was, for whatever the reason, not to be. He was seriously stricken with late onset Parkinson’s’ disease and suffered greatly as one keen ability after another faded. For the person we all knew Bob to be, it was a very harsh adjustment. Throughout it, however, he did all he COULD do, and as long as possible continued to enjoy his obsessive reading and discussion of the National Geographic, spiritual wonderings with his children, playing bingo only to win little gifts for ‘his girls’ and listening to big band music until the very end. His late life WAS blessed by a devoted family, finely skilled loving nurses… including his devoted granddaughter Katie, and the faithful visits, cards, and letters of devoted friends. These things meant much and were never taken for granted.

Bob’s greatest wish for today was not about what or what not to do, or where to have his service. He wrote Sharon 5 letters over the years requesting that this day not be a day of undue grief and ‘long faces’. He very consciously made the choice to believe that a great adventure lay in front of him and even discussed some of the first questions he intends to ask of the spiritual beings he hopes to meet. With this request in mind, today is most certainly a day of celebration, of not only his life and service, but of Bob’s new found freedom into the greatest adventure of all. Let us allow this final wish to, indeed, become reality.