Robert Keith McWhorter

Published 12:31 am Saturday, July 26, 2014

4 Feb 1920 – 26 June 2014

Robert (Bob) Keith Mcwhorter died June 26, 2014 in Bend, Oregon. Born to Alma Lee (Devenport) and William Bee McWhorter Feburary 4, 1920 in Hedrick, Oklahoma. He grew up in the panhandle of Texas. Married Lissia (Liz) Amanda Fleming on Feburary 12, 1944. They were married 56 years; she passed away in March 2000. Bob and Liz raised three children, Rusty, Karen & Bob while living in Long Beach, CA. He is survived by his sister Lou MacKenzie, son Bob McWhorter, daughter Karen Rawnsley, grandchildren Erin Donnell, Jennifer Coakley, Pat Rawnsley; and great grandaughter Elizabeth Rawnsley.

Over the years, Bob had several different careers, was always a hard worker, and dearly loved children and animals. After growing up during the Great Depression, he left high school early to work and help support his parents and siblings. He worked in the shipyards as a welder/riveter until he went into the Army Air Corps to be a cook during WWII; he was stationed in the Admiralty Islands. After finishing his tour of duty, Bob continued to cook and operated his own restaurant (The Grass Shack drive-in and family restaurant in Long Beach, CA.) He was a Cub Scout leader and a little league baseball coach for 10 years. His next endeavor was operating his own landscape/gardening business. After retiring the second time, he got licensed to sell real estate. All throughout this time, he raised pedigreed Brittany Spaniels to be show dogs and competed in field trials in Madras, riding his Appaloosa horse Comanche. In 1985, he retired again and moved to Bend, OR. Soon after, he acquired another horse, an Arabian named Stetsan. Throughout the years, Bob rode Stetsan in all of the parades in Central Oregon, went on numerous trail rides, and belonged to the Arabian Horse Club. He is quite a “cowboy.” Never one to be idle, he also signed up through the Employment Office … to do odd jobs work for “old folks” who needed help.

One of his favorite memories is about being a lightweight boxing champion as a teenager back in the panhandle of Texas. His claim to fame was a round-house punch he handed out to his competitor, a one punch knock-out. But then he decided to quit boxing, so he could “stay good looking.”

The family is so grateful for all the care and support from our “family” at Aspen Ridge Memory Care and Partners In Care Hospice of Bend. Autumn Funerals is handling arrangements; no services will be held. Donations can be made to Partners In Care Hospice of Bend.