Robert "Bob" Lee Saunders peacefully passed on Saturday, March 8th, 2025. Bob lived a very fulfilling life before his dementia and a brain injury took so much from him. Bob also experienced some recovery and  found many stable, happy, and healthy years among family before his recent and rapid decline.

Robert was born May 22nd, 1949 in Norman, Oklahoma to William Henry Saunders and Anna Laura (Blackshear). He is preceded in death by his parents and loving wife Kathy E. (Drury).  He is survived by his son, Justin (Lynn), of Garland/Pottsboro; son, Jarrod, of Sachse; son, Joel (Chastity), of Denison; elder sister, Billy Ann, of Mansfield; and younger brother, Tom (Barb), of Scottsdale, AZ. He also leaves his beloved grandchildren, Olivia, Jakob, Jackson, and Johnathan.

Robert spent his earliest years in Alva and Norman, Oklahoma and then lived a few years in Sherman, TX. The family then laid permanent roots in the growing town of Garland, TX. His father, Bill, opened a drug store where Bob and his siblings were regularly part of the family business. Bob had an exceptional work ethic and eventually began driving deliveries at age 14 with a "farmer's waiver". He was a smaller, but very strong offensive and defensive lineman in football throughout school. He was in the first full graduating class for South Garland High School. He later played football while attending school at Southwest Oklahoma State before eventually moving to Denton, TX to attend UNT. Although just friends in high school, Bob and his future wife, Kathy, kindled a love in Denton where she was attending TWU.

That love was brought back to Garland where the young couple was married at Monica Park Church, where his parents were founding members, on December 28th, 1973. Bob began a career at UPS during that time, and Kathy became a teacher at SGHS where she stayed until her retirement. They bought a first house, but decided on a home on the ample corner of Mobile Dr to raise their three boys. The home also became a base for neighborhood kids. Bob was known as a neighborhood husband and often put on-loan for his home repair abilities.

Bob was an amazing family man and played a strong role in all of his sons' and grandchildrens' upbringing and lives. He was handy, and he shared it. He was a lover of nature and especially large bodies of water. He camped, fished, sailed, water-skied, and even barefooted on every body of water Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of Arkansas had to offer. No water was safe from his enjoyment including those with a slalom course.  His skills on the water earned him the "Barefoot" call-sign during his many trucking years. Bob was known to bring his family along for most every adventure, so lake-life (don't forget Galveston Bay!) became a norm.

Extended family was always a big focus with Bob, and, despite distances, they consistently vacationed together and visited each other. He influenced and supported friends of the family and gave service for the good of his wife's students in their time of opportunity, his sons' friends in their time of misguidance, and his parents' dreams in their time of decline. He was selfless in a way that most will never experience.  Bob was a rock of a man and was counted on by most everyone in his orbit at one time or another.

Bob had many passions. He was a natural driver and had a very solid knack for anything mechanical. Dune-buggies, motorcycles of all flavors, modded muscle cars, all the trucks, tiny British sports cars, and (maybe too many?) boats cycled through his garage.  Oh, who are we kidding; there were never too many boats for Bob.

Full of so many talents and ambitions, Bob was struck with early signs of dementia even before his retirement at age 64. He was one of the longest tenured employees for his company by that time, having driven millions upon millions of miles with a nearly flawless record (35 year safe driver award) for UPS. Starting in local package trucks, he turned into a feeder driver that long-hauled semis; double and triple trailers moving countless packages to all corners of the lower 48 states.

Tragedy struck early in retirement with an accident that left Bob unable to retain his short-term memories. Kathy became his caregiver at his time of need with the help of the family and friends that surrounded. Further tragedy struck when a battle with cancer ended Kathy's life too-soon in December 2018.

A new life began for Bob and many others in 2019. Bob moved in with his eldest son, Justin, and his household who never knew Bob before his disabilities. They did, however, get to experience his raw love for life and the paradise he helped create on the shores of Lake Texoma. His dad-jokes and humor didn't fade. His calming nature and extremely laid-back attitude carried on. Friends, family, and the oh-so-many dogs were very much remembered to him in all of the years of his experiences. Although his short-term memory suffered greatly, he still knew and loved the "sometimes strangers" around him. Anger, resentment, distrust and fear never crossed his path, despite the dementia that can drive so many to those entrapments. Bob felt and reciprocated love in the same way that he did everything; as best he could. He will be missed, He will be loved.

Services will be given at Monica Park Church on March 22nd, 2025.  Viewing begins 9:30 am; service at 10:30 with burial at Georgetown Cemetery in Pottsboro, TX at 4:30 that afternoon.

ALL family are invited for retreat and board at the family lake house for the remainder of that weekend.

In lieu of flowers or contributions, the family requests donations, or more encouragingly, efforts towards charities that support children in need.  You can and will make a difference in people's lives; please embrace and further the cause.