Robert "Bob" Laffoon

With a heart as big as a man's chest ever contained, Bob Laffoon was never one to shy away from an opinion, no matter how controversial; nor avoid work on a project, no matter how difficult; nor say no to someone needing a helping hand, regardless of the level of sacrifice required.
In his almost 79 years of life, he entertained an incalculable number of Angels, of every race, color and creed, with absolute disregard for the beneficiary's' ability to ever repay the gift.
He greatly loved the Lord God with all his heart and soul, his family and every friend and acquaintance he ever had.
A complex and often misunderstood man with a life-long irrepressible sense of humor, he was born Robert Wayne Laffoon on July 3, 1933 in Oelwein, Iowa, as the son of Donald and Donna (Simpson) Laffoon
After graduating from Oelwein High School in 1951, he spent two years serving his Country in the Pacific with the US Navy and then came home to professionally drive passenger buses across the country for 28 years until retirement from Greyhound Bus Lines.

In 1953 he courted and married the lovely Verlee Shaw and for 59 years served as her faithful and dependable soul-mate and partner.

Together they raised two children in West Palm Beach, FL: Donna (DeeDee) Siefken and Robert (Rob) Laffoon.

Donna and husband Rick Siefken are proud members of the Blairsville, GA area.
Rob wed Nebraska product Tracey (Ellington) and they reside in Ft. Worth, TX.

Bob was for many years an active Kiwanian and (Brotherhood of) Mason and for more than 20 years contributed countless hours of his time and considerable wood-crafting skills to the humanitarian effort to eradicate cancer in his life-time via Relay For Life.
From 2003 until his passing, he was also an active member of Coosa Methodist Church.

Though officially retired, Bob was never one to spend too much time idle, so he stayed busy for many years working for BuilderWay Materials and subsequently, as an installer for his Daughter and Son-in-Law's Blairsville based Budget Blindsfranchise.

His favorite time of year was the fall when he could watch his beloved UGA Bulldawgs manhandle some lesser SEC opponent, enjoy his Miami Dolphins dominating a hapless AFC rival, and track the lap-by-lap winning strategies of Bill Elliot or Kasey Kahne in NASCAR.

He was a passionately successful gardener and dilettante farmer who in his great zeal for the craft, never understood others' lesser appreciation for it.
He was also an accomplished league bowler, who held a respectable average but never quite mastered, much to his frustration, the hook.

Of all his many hobbies and fanatical pursuits however, he was never more full of life and joy than when he was spending time with his beloved family, doing just about anything that served to bring them together.

His Grandchildren:
• Nick Frechette (Wife Jessica, Daughters Avery and Brooke) – Blairsville, GA
• Shayla Frechette (Daughter Kaly) - Blairsville, GA
• Alec Laffoon & Cole Laffoon - Ft. Worth, TX

Bob also leaves behind a great number of additional family and close friends across the country.

Bob's passing leaves a void in our lives that will not be filled on this earth. Life has changed and we will adjust, but only on the proposition that we will one day share love and laughs with him again, and then for all eternity.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society c/o Sue Upchurch, 3515 Mulky Gap Rd., Blairsville, Ga 30512