Robert "Bob" Williams

He was raised in Moffat and Routt Counties as part of a large ranching family. Bob attended school in Hayden, where he excelled academically, graduating as the valedictorian of his class. He was also active in athletics and among the first to earn a state tournament medal for the Hayden wrestling team.

Bob was drafted into the United States Army and deployed to Korea.

On November 22, 1959, Bob married Alice Belton. Together they shared a loving marriage and raised three children: Connie (Mike) Bell, Bruce (Lori) Williams, and Debora (Frank) Watson.

Bob is survived by his wife, Alice; his children; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as his brother Dutch and his sister Betty. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Dorothy, his brothers Alan, Melvin, and Bill and his son-in-law Mike Bell.

He was an amazing man and an incredible husband and father. A true steward of the land, he had the remarkable ability to make something out of nothing. He was someone you could always count on, no matter what was asked of him.

Known for his quiet demeanor and infectious smile, he was generous to everyone, even those who were different from him. He never worried about what others thought, because he knew that the people who mattered truly knew who he was.

He always found a way to give his family new adventures, even when he didn’t have the means. He had a deep appreciation for good food, finding joy in shared meals with his friends and family. His heart was on the ranch, where he found his greatest joy sharing his knowledge and way of life with his children and grandchildren. He was a great rancher!

He was the most patient man. Even when he knew a lesson would end in a mistake, he let it happen, fixed what needed fixing, and carried on without complaint.

He became a second father to many of his children’s friends; not because he tried to be, but because his heart was that big. If you had a nickname, you knew he loved you. He was a hardworking man in every sense of the word, but he still found time to enjoy life. He had a competitive spirit, whether playing games, roping, wrestling, or watching sports.

Above all, he was deeply devoted to his family, and his legacy lives on through those values, lessons, and love for all that knew him.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at a later date.