Robert A. PAYETTE

Born November 4, 1920 - Died April 6, 2012. Born in Los Angeles and raised by his father, Clarence Oliver McDuell in San Diego, CA. His father, a WWI veteran died when Bob was approximately five years old. He then moved from foster home to foster home until he was adopted by Joseph and Ann Payette, who thereafter adopted a girl, Nancy, who became his sister. He lived out rest of his youth in Pasadena, CA. It was at Pasadena High School where he met the life long love of his life, Myrelle "Mickey" Passage. They married on Mickey's birthday, January 4, 1941, and had three children. He attended Northwestern University during the Great Depression and then left school when WWII broke out. Bob initially worked at the shipyards in the San Francisco Bay Area and then joined the Merchant Marines, seeing action at Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal and the Philippines. Bob re-upped with the Merchant Marines for the Korean War. He later worked as a successful real estate broker for over 40 years in San Francisco. Bob's lifelong hobby was thoroughbred horse racing. It may have begun with his presence at the Seabiscuit vs War Admiral race on November 1, 1938, noted to be the greatest horse race ever. He ultimately partnered in the purchase of a thoroughbred named "Heat". He was an inveterate student of thoroughbreds, knowing them almost as well as successful trainers. Bob is survived by his children, Steven, Susan and Daniel Payette along with his daughter-in-law, Gloria Payette, his three grandchildren, Shannon Seip, Christopher Payette, and Sarah Garrison, his great grand-children, Isaac and Bini Seip, Arlie Mae Garrison, and Shelby and Natasha Payette. Bob was predeceased by his wife Mickey, his sister Nancy and his adopted parents, Joseph and Ann Payette. Bob lived for the moment many times but loved eternally his Mickey who he joins now.