Robert "Bob" Merrill Carr

Robert Merrill “Bob” Carr passed away peacefully on February 9th at Celia’s House at Holmes Park at the age of 88. Bob was born on December 30, 1930 at the family home in Fern Valley east of Phoenix to parents Lester and Ethel (Alford) Carr. He would live in Fern Valley for his entire life, except for two years of service in the US Army in the early 1950’s spent primarily in occupied Germany. He was a descendant of the Payne and Alford families, Oregon Trail Pioneers who moved from the Willamette Valley to the Rogue Valley in the 1860’s, eventually settling east of Phoenix on a farm at the base of Mt. Baldy; part of which has remained the family’s home for the past 150 years.
He attended Fern Valley School and Phoenix High School, transferring to Medford High School because of its mechanics and welding shop programs, graduating in 1949. Upon discharge from the Army in 1955 he purchased part of the family farm from his aunt and soon met and fell in love with Karen Dale Olson. They were married in 1956 and moved into the home they would live in for over 62 years, remodeling and enlarging as the family grew with three children: Dale, Darrell and Cynthia.
He was a true steward of land on this Century Farm for over 60 years, raising tomatoes, squash, asparagus, onions, pears, apricots, hay, cattle, and sheep over the years. In addition he was a Ceramic Tile Contractor for many years, adding to the beauty and function of many of the Rogue Valley’s bathrooms and kitchens.
As a young man his love of motorcycles and fast cars took him to the race track where he competed locally. Hunting and fishing with his friends and family fueled his adventurous nature while providing for his growing family. Always mechanically inclined and gifted he enjoyed restoring/maintaining old farm equipment with his son Darrell. Bob’s longtime fascination with Gems and Minerals led him to develop his skills to become a lapidary artist, faceting a variety of gemstones (many of which he collected) and providing the family with many stunning gifts of jewelry over the years. He was an active member of the Rogue Gem and Geology Club in Grants Pass. He was a long-time supporter of local 4-H and FFA programs from his days participating as a youth through supporting the activities of generations of children and grandchildren. Over the years he was a supporter of community organizations including the Phoenix Historical Society, Phoenix Pioneer Cemetery, Jackson County Farm Bureau.
In addition to his wife of 62 years Karen, he is survived by: son Dale Carr (Ken Ballard) Portland; daughter Cynthia “Cyndi” (John) Rich, Medford; daughter-in-law Pamela “Pam” Carr, Medford; grandchildren Jeremiah (Dominique) Rich, Patrick Carr, Rachel Carr; niece/nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, brothers George and David Carr, and son Darrell.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Celia’s House in Holmes Park and Providence Home Health and Hospice, for their amazing care and attention to Bob over the last stage of his journey. The family suggests that donations may be made in Bob’s memory to the Phoenix Pioneer Cemetery, P.O. Box 358, Phoenix, OR 97535 or Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice, 217 S. Modoc, Medford, OR 97504
A Funeral Service is scheduled for 2pm on Thursday, February 14th at Hillcrest Memorial Park Chapel on North Phoenix Road. He will be interred at the Phoenix Pioneer Cemetery with five generations of family members.
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