Robert ‘Bob’ Earl Shanor

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(May 19, 1933 - Jan. 14, 2015)

Robert “Bob” Earl Shanor died Jan. 14, 2015, at home in Cody with family by his side. He was 81.

He was born in Wyola, Mont., on May 19, 1933, to Jesse Olen and Charlotte Geneva Shanor.

Bob joined the U.S. Army when he was 18 and spent two years in Korea. He then transferred to Frankfurt, Germany until 1957. While in Germany, he met Inger Piepgrass, fell in love and married on Sept 1, 1955.

Their first child, Bobbie Jo, was born in 1956 while the couple was still in Germany. Ronald “Ron” David was born three years later in Powell.

Bob had a lifetime passion for adventure, and traveled to the four corners of the U.S., Alaska, and parts of Canada and Europe by motorcycle. He loved the outdoors, constantly traveling through the mountains and back country. When he was young he walked and rode horse, and then switched to snowmachines, motorcycles, and four-wheelers as time went on. He led thousands of snowmachine trips, guided hundreds of four-wheeling adventures and introduced dozens of friends to the great outdoors.

Bob liked to drive and was a truck driver for most of his working life, driving everything from 18-wheelers to cement mixers and water trucks. When he was 68, Bob worked 89 days in a row, 16 hours a day, to haul cement for spillway repairs at Buffalo Bill Dam. In 1968, Bob and his brother, Bill, survived a semi-truck accident with a train near Wolf Point, Mont. The accident derailed seven train cars, totaled the semi-truck, and sent both brothers to the hospital in critical condition.

Bob is survived by his daughter Bobbie Holder; son Ron Shanor; daughter-in-law Jean Shanor; his loving companion Mary Ann Pawley; sister Betty Dalke (Wenatchee, Wash.); and brother William Shanor (Kalispell, Mont.). He is also survived by Travis Griffeth, Trent Holder, Sage Powell, Skyler Powell, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by Inger, his wife of 53 years; both parents; five brothers (Jesse, Leroy, Phillip, Ray, and Martin); and two sisters (Mildred “Peg” and Lois).

A memorial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 11 a.m. at the VFW Hall, 353 S. Fair St. in Powell. There will be a celebration of life following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Cody Cancer Support Group c/o Fly Brod, 719 Platinum, Cody, WY 82414.

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