- Date Of Birth: September 21, 1947
- Date Of Death: September 16, 2016
- State: Georgia
Robert Woodside Kaley passed away on Friday, September 16, 2016 at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville. Robert was born to Marian Woodside Kaley and Robert Harwin Kaley on September 21, 1947 in Buffalo, New York. Bob graduated from high school in Vestal, New York. He studied at The University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. He was awarded an Associate’s Degree from Broome Technical College in Binghamton, New York (now SUNY Broome Community College). Bob earned the rank of Eagle Scout with The Boy Scouts of America and was a member of the Order of the Arrow. Bob was a talented artist, photographer, and musician.
He participated in the Orchestra at Johnson City High School and was a member of several bands that originated in the Binghamton/Johnson City Area of upstate New York, including The Shadows, Flesh and Blood and Jacob’s Ladder. Bob played trumpet, harmonica, and guitar. He also had skill on piano and the organ. Later in life he became interested in country music and was practicing the steel guitar.
During the majority of Bob’s career, he enjoyed working in sales and marketing management in the hospitality industry. This path began in Nashville, Tennessee when he came to work with Eli White, (one of his former bandmates) at a prominent hotel. Bob continued on this path in the Atlanta, Georgia area, including ten years with The Stone Mountain Memorial Association, where he experienced the excitement of the “Park’s”, hosting eight different venues during the 1996 Olympic Games. Bob is survived by Mary Palmer Kaley, his wife of 37 years; daughter Samantha Evans and son-in-law Todd Evans; Sister: Carole Anne (Kaley) Stanley, Sisters-in-Law: Kathy Kaley, Brenda Diane Thompson Wright, Becky Jester Thompson, Kat Wellens Baranski Thompson. Brothers-in-law: James Culmer Wright, John Robert Thompson and Howard Stinson Thompson. Nieces: Tricia Stanley Hitchcock (Trent Hitchcock), Corinne Stanley, Elizabeth Thompson, Duncan, Shannon Thompson, Gini Lynn Thompson, Jordan Wright Nephews: Jonathan Stanley, Jared Wright, Bradley Wright, Robert Scott Thompson, Matthew Thompson, Dustin Thompson And the precious children of a number of the nieces and nephews listed above. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, John (Jack) Myrle Kaley.
An important scripture for Bob is Psalms 91. Family legend has it that Christian Kaley was a personal aide to Napoleon Bonaparte, and during one battle he was mortally wounded. The legend reports that the aide requested Psalms 91 be read to him continually, without ceasing, until after he drew his last breath. The particulars of the number of days and hours Christian Kaley lived to hear the Psalm has been lost with Bob’s passing, but Bob’s intent was to have Psalms 91 read during his funeral service. The service was already held in Georgia. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent in Bob’s memory to the charity where he often volunteered his time, The Salvation Army.
Bob volunteered for the Salvation Army of Metropolitan Atlanta, at the Lawrenceville, Georgia location on Sugarloaf Parkway, in Lawrenceville, Georgia (when he was able). He received a special letter from the President for his volunteer hours. Bob especially loved the Angel Tree program prior to Christmas each year, and the music program for their talented young people.
