OBITUARY Robert Matthews Burr Jr. September 23, 1931 – January 15, 2019 Robert Matthews Burr, Jr. September 23, 1931 – January 15, 2019 Bob Burr passed away on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 in Sacramento at age 87. He was the second son of Robert Matthews Burr, Sr. and Violet Leam Burr, born in Hollywood, CA on September 23, 1931 and raised in Sutter Creek, CA in Amador County with his older brother Seneca (“Skip”) and younger brother Thomas (“Corey”). After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, he pursued his education by attending San Jose Junior College, Stanford University, and California State University, Sacramento.
No stranger to hard work, he held three simultaneous jobs while he attended Stanford, and he was rewarded for his efforts by obtaining not only a Master of Business Administration degree, but a license as a General Contractor as well. Bob found his professional calling as an executive and a manager in commercial construction working as a project manager and at one point as a vice-president. He contributed to producing mid-sized and large-scale buildings all across California by collaborating with owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and the community to meet schedules, adhere to budgets, ensure safety for workers, and in the end, create magnificent structures.
Although he found himself suited and booted with a tie every day, Bob was not afraid to get his hands dirty. On any given weekend, his preferred leisure time involved pouring concrete, hammering nails, branding cattle, running a chain saw, and more recently, crafting wooden pieces for others. Never one to leave a mess, a hard day’s work always ended with tidying up.
Following his retirement, Bob continued to create. With a prodigious knowledge of wood, he crafted and restored all types of wood furniture and accessories for his friends and family, including chests, valets, cutting boards, hall trees, coffee tables, and even the occasional jewelry box. If someone identified a need, he was quick to provide.
Bob’s spiritual and family commitment induced him to follow in the footsteps of his father, his grandfather, and even his great grandfather in becoming a Free and Accepted Mason. A member of Henry Clay Lodge in Sutter Creek for over 50 years, he went through all the chairs as well as serving as master of the lodge. He is survived by his wife of 25 years Hope Jackson Burr; his children Guy, Missy, Hank, and Jon; and grandchildren Aaron, Michael, Charlotte, Neevie, Griffin, Ashlyn, Dylan, and Harper.
He will be missed by Hope’s family, the Jacksons, his ex-wife Merrilee Burr, and his daughters-in-law Brandy and Heather. Friends are invited to join Bob’s family for an informal memorial service on Saturday, February 2, 2019, 1:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. in Fair Oaks, CA. Please RSVP to the family via email at jonathan.s.burr@gmail.com or call 916-868-9374.
The service address and directions will be provided.
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