Robert James Holgate

Robert James Holgate, 63, of Parsons, Kansas passed away at 8:41 a.m., Friday, November 21, 2014 at Labette Health in Parsons following a valiant five-month battle with cancer. He was born September 3, 1951 in Richfield, Utah to Reldon James and Marilyn (Gardner) Holgate. He was a graduate of St. David High School in St. David, Arizona, and later attended the University of Arizona in Tucson. Throughout his life, he worked at various places including Ford Motor Company in Wayne, Michigan, was owner at Gulf Oil in Houston, Texas, was owner at Mobil in San Antonio, Texas, and most recently was owner/operator of Mac's Bakery in Joplin, Missouri. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held various church positions over the years including Primary teacher, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School President, Clerk, High Councilor, Counselor in several Bishoprics, Oklahoma City Temple worker, and most recently Branch President of the Parsons Branch. He also served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission from November 1970 to November 1972. On February 1, 1973, he and Terri René Peck were married in Mesa, Arizona. She survives of the home. In addition to his wife, survivors include his mother, Marilyn (Gardner) Holgate, Gilbert, AZ; three sons, J. Blake Holgate, Dennis, KS, Nathan W. Holgate, Chicago, IL, and Joshua R. Holgate, Independence, MO; three daughters, Karlene R. Larson, Newport, RI, Valerie D. Christopher, Raytown, MO, and Amanda K. Doyle, Pryor, OK; twelve grandchildren, one great-grandchild; four brothers, Dana L. Holgate, Mesa, AZ, Charles R. Posegate, Blackfoot, ID, Carey W. Holgate, Gilbert, AZ, and Steve W. Burr, Gunnison, UT; and two sisters, Angela Miles, Caldwell, ID, and Cynthia Johnson, Hamilton, VA. He was preceded in death by his father, Reldon James Holgate. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Joplin, MO. Burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin, MO. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 25, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons, KS and from 9-10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 26, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Joplin, MO. Memorials are suggested to Boy Scouts of America, Troop 20. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert James Holgate, please visit our flower store.