Robert “Bob” Seymour, 86, of Snowflake, went home to be with his Savior and Lord on Jan. 4, 2024. He was born Jan. 17, 1937, in Fort Gage, Ill., to Ralph Vacey Seymour and Margaret Knott Seymour, the third of six children.
Bob attended Southern Illinois University and Grand Canyon College (University). During his life he farmed, ranched, worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 20 years and was a counselor in a maximum security prison in Illinois. After moving to Snowflake in 1983, he pastored Valley View Baptist Church in Snowflake for 27 years and worked as a Navajo County probation officer and for Child Protective Services.
Bob’s spiritual gift was encouragement and he used it to serve others in all areas of his life – he saw no separation between his spiritual life and his professional life. He could see humor in almost any situation and quickly come up with a joke. He always said, “If God gave me any sense at all, it was a sense of humor.” He was a generous loving man who loved his God, his family, all people, and of course his horses.
Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years, Linda (Estes) Seymour; his sister, Linda Blow of Ellis Grove, Ill.; His children, Ralph (Tina) Seymour, Brenda (Scott) Loritz, Mari (Dan) Roper, and Susan (Jason) Cash; grandchildren, Bonnie (Rick) Tucker, Andrew Hall, Melody and AJ Roper, Eric Cash, Danielle Jacobs, Seth Seymour, Baylee (Scott) Balisle; and eight great-grandchildren, along with numerous nephews and nieces.
Bob lived a life of generosity, ministry and service to others. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 20 at Valley View Baptist Church in Snowflake.
Bob believed in ministry and giving and lived his life doing both. He requested that flowers not be sent for his service. Instead, he asked that support be given to the ministry of Voice for the Voiceless Thailand. This ministry of Tim and Tina Dixon (close friends of Bob) was developed to minister and share the Gospel to children and their families in their village in central Thailand. Some of the ministry outreach includes: Bible studies, English classes, life-skill training, school supplies, food, water, reading glasses, and much more.
