Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson passed peacefully to his rest on May 9, 2006 at the Logan Regional Hospital. He was born October 5, 1918 in Chicago, Illinois, the second son of Walter John and Lucile Marie Heinn Anderson Stevenson. At the time of his birth, the worldwide influenza epidemic was raging and both of his parents were gravely ill. Thought to be stillborn at birth, the quick actions of an observant nurse miraculously saved his life. When he was five years old, his parents moved the family to Elmhurst, Illinois, a small suburb of Chicago. There he spent his childhood and adolescent years in a home on the corner of Highland and North Avenues. He was an Eagle Scout, his father being his Assistant Scoutmaster, and he graduated from York High School in Elmhurst. He studied at the University of Chicago and later at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UCLA and the Alexander Hamilton Institute. As it came time to leave home, Bob went to Los Angeles, California, working and buying a part interest in a gold mine that he and his buddies worked on the weekends. It was there that a friend living in the same boarding house invited him to go to church with him to play basketball. The basketball games soon gave way to missionary discussions and he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He spent World War II in Belfast, Northern Ireland providing essential war services with Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. There he met and married Isobel Steel Bannatyne on May 1, 1943. They were later divorced. Robert had a responsible and varied career which allowed him to tour the world as well as every corner of the United States and Canada. He served as International Sales Director with the Schramm Air Compressor Company, founded his own heavy equipment sales and rental company, was Regional Sales Director for Carter Wallace Pharmaceutical Labs, and ultimately headed his own Management Consulting and Executive Personnel Search firm. He also served on several International Boards of Directors before his retirement in 1983. He moved to Logan in 1986 to be closer to family and there met Lila Rawlings Richards at a Family Home Evening group he had started. They were married in Logan February 1, 1992 and had fourteen wonderful years together. He often remarked how blessed he was to find Lila who was the source of such tremendous happiness and fun for him in his later years. They toured Europe and the Orient, enjoyed cruises, visited countless temples and made wonderful memories together. He loved music, playing the piano and singing. For many years he sang in Barbershop Choruses and Quartets. He loved the hymns of the Church. He was an avid golfer, loved good food and was filled with big ideas and a ?can-do? mentality second to none. Even as his health began to fail, he started a project knitting warm winter hats for Humanitarian Aid for Latter Day Saint charities and others, completing more than 1000 hats. He was never without a charitable project, whether it was providing food for the needy, funds and bursaries for deserving high school students or bingo prizes for senior citizens. Robert has been active in the LDS Church, serving in many leadership positions. A master teacher, he has blessed the lives of the many individuals he has been called to serve. He and Lila filled a mission to the Guam Micronesia Mission 1994-1995 where he served as Branch President and Branch Choir Director on the island of Tinian. Their efforts on Tinian were tireless and lives were changed there forever. Following their mission, they returned to Logan where they served as joint teachers in a Temple Preparation and Patriarchal Blessing class, having tremendous effect on the lives of their students who were able to receive Patriarchal Blessings and Temple Ordinances, some at an advanced age. Dad and Lila supported each one of their grandchildren who served missions both financially and by writing wonderful letters or sending audio tapes. He never missed a month. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John, his daughter Alma Bannatyne Stevenson, and his stepson Robert Richards. Towards the end, he frequently expressed how eager he was to be reunited with loved ones beyond the veil, especially his father. He leaves behind a loving family and many happy memories for all of us. He is the father of five children from his first marriage: Lauralee Elliott of Olympia, Washington, Lorayne Stevenson of Logan, Utah; Robert L. B. Mickey Stevenson of Logan, Utah; Alma Bannatyne Stevenson deceased and Mark W. M. Tatiana Bannatyne of Indianapolis, Indiana and four stepchildren from his second marriage: Robert Richards deceased; Jan Steve McBride of St. George, Utah; Bruce Kaye Lynn Richards of Mendon, Utah; and Lana Dennis Anella of Price, Utah. Between them, he and Lila have 27 grandchildren and 54 great grandchildren with 3 more on the way. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 2006 at Nelson Funeral Home Chapel, 162 East 400 North, Logan. President Gordon Haws of the Cache Second Branch will conduct. Friends and family may call from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com . The family would like to thank Doctor T. Scott Cunningham for his tender and sensitive care of our father, grandfather and great grandfather throughout the years, most especially during the closing weeks of his life. A special thanks also to the wonderful staff at the Logan Regional Hospital who so gently saw to his every need.