Robert Franklin “Bob” Smyer Jr., 97, died April 26, 2016 in Auburn, Alabama.
Born on Feb. 23, 1919 in Gaylesville, Alabama, Smyer moved with his family to Auburn in 1926.
He attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) before serving in the United States Army as a lieutenant during World War II. After returning to civilian life, he married Gay Ellis Prickett of Auburn in 1945.
He graduated from Auburn in 1947 and moved to Fairhope in 1949, taking a position with Grand Hotel Farms. In 1953, he went to work for the United States Post Office, from which he retired in 1983.
The year after Gay’s death in 1996, Smyer married Mary Irwin, formerly of Auburn, and moved to Annapolis, Maryland. Following Mary’s death, he moved back home to Fairhope in 2005.
Smyer was an avid genealogist. At the time of his death, his manuscript of the “Smyer Family History in Alabama” was in its final editing stages. He also performed much of the research for Gay’s history of the Fairhope United Methodist Church, published in 1986.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Gay Ellis Smyer; his daughter, Carole Smyer Jones; and his second wife, Mary Florence Roberts Irwin Smyer.
He is survived by son, William N. Smyer of Fancy Gap, Virginia, son and daughter-in-law, Richard F. and Sylvia F. Smyer of Auburn, son-in-law John W. Jones of Foley; brother-in-law Wesley C. Ellis of Opelika; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.
A celebration of life service will be held at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope, Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 2 p.m., with a private burial service to follow in Memory Gardens of Fairhope.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Fairhope United Methodist Church Imagine Campaign, the March of Dimes, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, or a favorite charity.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., 19698 Greeno Road, Fairhope, AL 36532, 251-990-7775, www.wolfefuneralhomes.com.
