Robert D. Botley

Robert D. Botley

Robert D. Botley died peacefully and with dignity on Friday March 28, 2008, with his wife and friend at his side.

Bob is survived by his wife of 59 years, Anna Mae Botley; two children, Steve Botley of Cave Junction, Oregon, and Becky Blackshaw and her husband Tony Blackshaw; and two grandchildren, Matthew and Kerry Blackshaw of New Zealand; and his sister, Suzanne Koch; and two nieces, Caroline Toops and Kathy Simmons of Ohio. He is also survived by Anna Mae’s family, Ella Faye Scott, Roy and Lee Burkhart; and nieces and nephews.

He was born on November 17, 1923, to Elizabeth and Robert D. Botley Sr. in Springfield, Ohio. His early life was spent in Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated from Shaker Heights High School. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He achieved a BS in Social work from Ohio State University and a BD in Theology from Yale Divinity School.

Bob was ordained into United Church of Christ in 1951 and served Congregational Churches in Sedgwick, Colorado; Pinedale, Wyoming; and Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1959 Bob did post graduate work in counseling at Iliff Seminary in Denver, Colorado, and the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. In 1961, he joined the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and accepted a position at San Mateo Unitarian church in California. In his nine year ministry at San Mateo, Bob was active in the Civil Rights Movement, marching with Martin Luther King in Selma, Alabama. He was six year President of the Board of Directors for Mental Health Recovery Inc. San Mateo. After a long illness with cancer, Bob retired early from formal ministry. After his health improved, he started his own business; Specialized Yachting Services. In 1980, Bob and Anna Mae sold the business and "retired" to the country; Willow Creek. In his "retirement", Bob started an accounting business in Willow Creek and became an active and dedicated member of the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bayside. In 1999, Bob and Anna Mae moved to McKinleyville. In the ensuing years, Bob devoted his energy and time to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship serving on many committees and on the Fellowship Board.

Bob loved the wilderness and in his younger years was a mountain climber and back packer. Bob was a amateur landscape photographer and won awards for some of his work. He loved wildlife and was a avid bird watcher. He became a sailor, built a boat and sailed the boat to Mexico and back. During the sailing years, Bob was part of the Farallo Islands off the coast of San Francisco.

Bob’s love of life and people and his service to community is a legacy that will long be remembered and cherished. A Celebration of His Life will be held in June at the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, date to be announced.

Arrangements under the care of Paul’s Chapel.

Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com, click on obituaries.