Robert "Bob" Blair Laverty, BHS 1945

Robert "Bob" Laverty 88, of Yreka .............. Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA, Wednesday, April 29, 2015................... Robert "Bob" Blair Laverty, a longtime resident of Siskiyou County, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2015, from complications associated with Parkinson's disease at his home in Carmel, California, where he had recently moved, surrounded by his family. ...................... Bob was born in Los Angeles to Blair and Mary Laverty in 1927. After his father's untimely death, Bob and his sister, Mary, were raised by their mother and loving stepfather, Paul DeMers. ........................ Bob graduated from Burbank High School in 1945 and then enlisted "until victory" in the U.S. Navy for the duration of World War II. He served in the Pacific as a signalman, but always humbly and quickly pointed out that, thankfully, he did not see combat. Following the war and after completing an associate degree in communications at Los Angeles City College, Bob relocated to Mount Shasta to work for KWSD as a radio announcer. He hosted one of the first jazz programs in far Northern California................................ Bob met his future wife and love of his life, Leslie Miles, there and they married in 1953. Bob and Leslie's first child, Robin, was born in 1954 and their second, Mary Ann, was born in 1956. The family moved to Yreka in 1963 and grew with the birth of Erin in 1968 and Philip in 1969. Bob had a long career in the insurance industry, beginning with New York Life. He later became an agent with State Farm Insurance. He received numerous awards from State Farm during his career of over 30 years, including the Crystal Excellence Award - the highest honor an agent can receive for the overall quality of his or her business. He had a sincere commitment to the well-being and financial security of his clients. Running his business ethically wasn't just a business model for him; his deeply-held values epitomized how he lived his life. Bob retired from State Farm in 1995. ......................... Bob was generous and civic-minded, dedicating much of his time to community organizations. He mentored many young men as a Boy Scout leader and Little League coach. He was a coordinator for dances at the Teen Club through the Mount Shasta Recreation Department. He later served as president of Siskiyou County Youth Baseball. In Yreka, he was the treasurer for the Kiwanis Club for many years, helping to organize Kiddies Day, Easter egg hunts, and fundraising activities......................... Bob was committed to the welfare and protection of rights for vulnerable children and served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) after his retirement. He was a founding board member of CASA of Siskiyou County and volunteered at the Broadway Flea, a benefit shop for CASA. He also served on the board of directors of the Siskiyou Training and Employment Program (STEP). In addition to volunteering his time and expertise for many organizations, Bob supported numerous charities and causes, particularly for children's rights, hunger, performing arts, hospice, medical research, and the protection of the environment....................... Bob was a longtime and active parishioner of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Yreka. He served as a Eucharistic Minister, taught catechism, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Bob also served on the finance committee, helped organize yearly retreats for Catholic men, and was the chair of the sesquicentennial celebration of St.Joseph's in 2005...................... Bob was a kind and beloved husband and father who were profoundly dedicated to his family. He was loved and adored by his family, and will be dearly missed. He is survived by his four children and their spouses: Robin Laverty-Reves and John Reves, Mary Ann Laverty and Roland Enaillo, Erin Healy and Tom Healy, and Philip Laverty and Michelle Prejean; four grandchildren: Azita Ranjbar, Zoe Secka, Blaise Laverty and Hugh Laverty; three step-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Leslie, and his sister, Mary Musson. ....................... Within the Laverty family and the wider Yreka community, Bob will be remembered as a role model who epitomized integrity, compassion, patience, kindness and humility in both his public and private life. He enjoyed life fully and was passionate about sports, music, fine dining, wine, travel and film. Throughout the years, whether announcing a high school football game, enjoying a crab dinner or trip to Reno with his Elks brothers and sisters, working in the Kiwanis' taco booth at the Siskiyou Golden Fair, golfing with his buddies, or pitching stocks to his Fortune Cookies friends, Bob truly loved engaging with his community and cherished his many friends throughout the county and beyond. .......................... A Memorial Mass at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, followed by a celebration of Bob's life, will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at 10 a.m. Additional details will be announced at a later date.