Arthur Leonard Roehr

A memorial service for Arthur Leonard Roehr, age 87, of Lake Palestine, is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday March 21, 2015 in the chapel at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin officiating. A family graveside service will preceded the Memorial service at Hawthorne Cemetery on the lake. Arthur was born on February 26, 1928 in Liberal, Kansas. He married Thelma Janis Bulls on April 3, 1954 in Monahans, Texas. Art and Jan had twins, Stephen and Stephanie, born in Liberal on Sept 8, 1956 and Sharon, born in Kermit, Texas just one year and two weeks later. He was devoted to Jan for over 60 years. He promised her family and his, that he would love, cherish and keep her forever, and he was a man of his word. But he was a man of few words. He didn’t tell his children and grandchildren how to be loving and kind, or how to live by a code of honesty and hard work, or how to listen. He showed us. He was kind and loving and honest and he listened with his whole heart and his tender eyes, and both of his big, strong, warm hands. No more successful (or better practiced!) listener ever walked the face of the earth. And Boy, could he work! Art could build a building from footer to rafters and plumb it, wire it and heat it. He could tear down an engine and completely rebuild it. He could make anything work again. He wouldn’t throw it out. He saw in everything a further purpose, a beauty yet to be uncovered if he just worked at it a little harder, a little longer, and took shorter breaks! Art was weakened by heart and lung disease and already frail when he fell on March 11, 2015, breaking his left hip and elbow. His body couldn’t withstand the additional trauma. Jan and his children were with him at The Home Place, Hospice of East Texas. He left us before dawn on Monday, March 16, 2015 and went fishin’. He is survived by his wife, Jan of Tyler; his children, Stephen and Blanche Roehr, Stephanie and Han Eijsink, and Sharon and Fred Cline; his grandchildren, Josh and Amanda Roehr, Kylah and Trent Bowers, Micah and Rick Shimonek, Freddy and Kari Cline, Bobbie and Dave Terry, Katie and David Ellis, and Lua, Kinnie, Shirin and Kaya Eijsink; and eight (soon to be nine) great –grandchildren. His surviving siblings include Jack and Barbara Roehr, Charles and Patty Roehr of San Diego, and sister-in-law, Janet Bulls of Tyler. He adored his nieces and nephews and cousins and his wonderful neighbors and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler 75701 or (hospiceofeasttexas.org).

Arthur Leonard Roehr

February 26, 1928 - March 16, 2015