Robert Lawrence Colliver

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Wednesday, 06 March 2013 12:55

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Services have been scheduled for Robert Lawrence Colliver, a strong supporter of Sitka sports, its youths and the community at large for more than 45 years.
A prayer service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, with Father Blaney officiating. A reception will follow at Corrigan Hall.
Bob died March 2 at Sitka Community Hospital. He was 69.
He was born July 26, 1943, in Chester, Mont., the son of Robert Troop and Mary Ann (Kantorowicz) Colliver. After high school in Chester, he worked for Eggers Meats in Spokane.
He was married to Verna Jo Casteel in 1960. They divorced in 1971, and he married Mary Lou McIntyre in Sitka in 1974.
He came to Sitka in 1967 to work for the Hames Corp. as a meat cutter. He later worked for H&H construction as a carpenter before becoming self-employed.
In the early 1970s he opened The Rock, a pizza parlor and arcade and  automotive parts store. He later  opened The Rock Rack, the house of audio and video.
As part of his support of the community, he helped start Moonlight Madness, an October sales event..
Bob first and foremost enjoyed his family and their activities, especially his grandchildren. He also spent time at car races, with roadsters, and working on cars. He loved to be outdoors hunting and fishing, as well as horseback riding.
During all his years here, he was deeply involved in Sitka sports, all sports – basketball, softball (he helped start the men’s softball league), Foosball, pool, boxing.
Swimming was a favorite. Suha Tokman, Baranof Barracuda Swim Club coach, called Michael and Chelsea Colliver two of  “the very best swimmers I have ever coached,” and he called their dad his best friend.
Tokman said Bob made “non-stop contributions to all sports in town ... and was a loving, caring, helping, friendly and very supportive parent.”
He said Bob once bought 3,000 carnations at the BBSC Mother’s Day fundraiser; bought chocolates at the Valentine’s Day fundraiser to donate to businesses to give away; bought meals for swimmers; and chaperoned on trips.
He supported other teams, too, including helping raise money for the high school sports teams by selling business signs that hang on the SHS gym walls.
Using his expertise in video, he filmed many events, including sports, celebrations and graduations, and made copies available.
His family members thanked everyone who has given them support, and the “wonderful staff at Sitka Community Hospital.”
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to a fund at First Bank.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Colliver and Mary Ann (Ennis); and a brother, Ronald Joseph Colliver.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Colliver, of Sitka, and his children   Patricia (Colliver) and Patrick Rice, Spokane;  Rebecca (Colliver) Johnson of Soldotna; Tamara (Colliver) and Matthew Neidhold of Spokane; Roberta (Colliver) and Brian Summers, Spokane;  Michelle “Shelly” (Colliver) and Shane Moles, Sitka; Michael Colliver and Melissa Haley, Everett, Mass.; and Chelsea Colliver and Jodi Tamosunas, Rodeo, Calif.
His grandchildren are Crysi Rice, Timothy (and Nikki) Rice, and Marcus Rice; of Spokane; Kamden of Sitka and Kaitlyn Johnson of Soldotna; Megan Neidhold of Spokane; Brianna Sturgeon, Joelle Lilly, Nicholas, Evan,  and Emma Summers, Spokane; Kyle, Devin and Kelsea Colliver-Johnson, Kolby Moles, Sitka; Corin and Ella Colliver, Everett; and Cacey Tamosunas, Rodeo, Calif.
His six great-grandchildren are Kiarra and Tristan Rice, Spokane; Kyana Shinew and Elexys Kind, Soldotna;  and Kamryn Epefanio and Brayden Johnson, Spokane.
His siblings are John (and Pat) Colliver, George Ennis, James Ennis, Steven Ennis, Mary (Ennis) Wardrop and Victoria (Ennis) Stanton, all of Spokane; and Thomas Ennis of North Richland Hills, Texas.
Several nephews, nieces, cousins and other family members also survive.

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