My BFF thru HS and our early '20's.
MC rides to Mt. Lemon at night.
River Rd & Craycroft overlook-solving the world's problems.
Bike road trip from Tucson to Santa Fe in High School.
4WD to shoot in the desert-especially the Rincon Mts.
70 mph in Pantano wash, 2nd gear, in Tucson.
All in "Critter" the red Toyota he dropped a 4 speed 360 Chevy in to replace the stock 4 cylinder. Shown in his beach photo.
Restoring an MG bought from me.
Came to my wedding in the 90's and was among my designated "Best Men" - official title went to my dad.
Shocked to learn he left so young. Never met his clearly happy second family. 
Miss not being able to reconnect in retirement.
God Bless. Rest in peace.

I remember in 1976, Tucson, AZ that we were classmates at Green Fields School, when Robert rescued my father and I. In the wee hours on I-10, I was on the back on my father's Kawasaki-900 on our way home from the County Fair, when he hit a 4x4x6 post laying lengthwise in the highway, causing a flat tire at 75 miles an hour. He miraculously held it up until stopping. That front rim had a 90 degree bend. We walked back up the highway to find the cause of this accident. A highway patrol stopped and called Robert for us, since in those days we had no cell phones. Robert came in his little truck and hauled my father, his motorcycle and me home. My father has frequently recounted this story and how generous Robert was to save us in the middle of the night. Robert really liked motorcycles. I think my father later let Robert take a spin on that bike.

Dear Deb - my thoughts and prayers to you and your family during this extremely difficult time. May your memories be your guiding light.  My deepest sympathies.

No words can ever remove the sorrow from such a tremendous loss.  I had the privilege of working with Bob for the last several years and as we worked together he became more than a co-worker, he became my friend.  As I've thought about him these last few days, the best adjective to describe him that I can think of is Gentleman.  Bob was always considerate of others and always had time just to talk.  But just because he was a gentleman, it doesn't mean he wasn't afraid to speak his mind or make a statement.  I will miss him.

Though I did not work directly with Bob at Reclamation - I met him when I started to park at the "motorcycle shed" on the Federal Center.  Bob looked every bit like a tough biker, but as I got to know him - he truly struck me as a "gentle giant" that many of my colleagues enjoyed working with.  He will be missed.

Deb, Cameron, and Chelsea,
I've worked for Bob the last two years and he made a lasting impression on me for the rest of my life.  He was one-of-a-kind; he was an engineer that drove a Cadillac, rode Harleys, and looked like the 4th member of ZZ Top. Though he looked like a tough biker, he was indeed a ‘gentle giant'.

Bob started out as my supervisor and became a friend and mentor. Bob told me many times to work hard, but to play harder. He was able to strike a delicate balance with being kind and generous and being honest and firm.  Yesterday I told a co-worker that I wasn't done with Bob.  I still had a lot to learn from him, not only professionally, but about being a man and living life.  I learned so much from Bob over these past two years; not only by what he said, but how he lived his life.   

May God bless and comfort you.

Dear Debbie,

I want to say how sorry I am. I looked forward to seeing you and Rob every week at Las Brisas.  Please let me know if there is anything I can do.  Cheryl O'Leary

My prayers are with you Debbie, and your family.
Cheryl O'Leary
Las Brisas Restaurant

Deb & Family -

Bob was one of those people you always enjoy working with, because he was a good person, as well as a good co-worker.  I'll always remember him as part of the "Rec's Angels" motorcycle "gang" many years ago.

My heartfelt condolences to your family at this difficult time.  I cherish my memories of working with Bob.  Kind, thoughtful, and easy to talk with.  I will sorely miss our regular chats.

Deb, 
Wishing you and your family the strength to do the things that Rob would have wanted you to do.

Those are awesome pictures on the website and I'm so glad you have so many great memories to cherish.

This is the time to rely on friends and family to get you through and we'll be waiting for you when you decide it's time to get back to work.  We need you, but we'll wait patiently...  :)

Bob was a very kind and caring person.  He was always there to listen to others and be of help to them.  My love and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.  He will certainly be missed.
Nancy Steuart
BOR Retiree

Deb & Family, 
My heartfelt condolences to you. I can't tell you how much we looked forward to seeing you and Bob come into Las Brisas each week. He was a truly wonderful man who will be greatly missed. 
Blanche Davis

Deb and family, please accept the Colorado Barthel family's deepest condolences.  Where do I begin when describing such a great friend, lunch, Harley, and hunting buddy whom will be so difficult to dismiss.  When I first walked into the establishment of the Reclamation family way back in August of 1985, Bob was assigned to assist in my transition and warmly welcomed the opportunity to mentor the new guy on the block.  Working with Bob throughout the years has afforded me the deepest respect for him as an individual, as a friend, and as a top notch engineer. I am grateful to have had the opportunity last week to discuss work, future plans and to laugh.  I personally still cannot wrap my mind around the reality of what has happened, but at least we had some laughs before the unthinkable happened. :)

My thoughts and prayers are with the family.  I have fond memories of all of his Colorado family since moving here 23 years ago and having his children in preschool......whom I still have the great honor of knowing to this day.

Deb and Family, Bob was a rare individual who could bring light to the essential aspects of any problem. I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to benefit from his council as we worked together to establish the Design and Construction Review Office in the Bureau of Reclamation. His wisdom and tales of the open road will be truly missed.

Deb,

Please accept the heartfelt condolences of Rene and I.  Bob was my first mentor when I started at Reclamation years ago and his excellent council throughout the years has always been appreciated.  Please know that although Bob and I did not speak often since I left Denver, his friendship has always been treasured and he'll be remember fondly by not just the two of us but by many others.

Bob was an engineer's engineer.  I've never seen a problem he couldn't solve, and he had a non-stop desire to find a better way to do things.  Over his 30+ years at the Bureau of Reclamation, he made many valuable contributions to the engineering of power plants, pumping plants, dams, water conveyance facilities and even management information systems.  We will greatly miss him.

Mrs. Davis, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.  I did not work with your husband, but we often ran in to each other in the hallways, lunch room and he was always so nice.  Blessings to you and your family during this time. 

Mrs. Ginger Dill

From working with Bob on disaster response actions, to his engineering projects, Bob always had the well being of the country in mind and took his responsibility seriously and with great pride of saying "job well done". His commendations ranged from the Commissioner of Reclamation, to Brigadier Generals, to other State Officials.  The country will miss him.  I will miss him.

OBITUARY

Robert Hartley Davis

December 3, 1957 – February 7, 2014

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Chapel Hill

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