ROBERT JAY STEARLEY Formerly Brazil, IN

Sunday, May 14, 2023
SUBMIITTED

Robert Jay Stearley, 93, a beloved husband, father and “Pop-Pop,” died peacefully on December 5, 2022, in St. Louis, MO, where he had lived since 1984.

But his heart always lived in Brazil, IN, where his earthly journey began.  The eldest child of Melvin George and Hila Mona (Bolin) Stearley, Bob roared into life on September 6, 1929, delivered on the kitchen table by Brazil’s own midwife, Mrs. Boysaw.  Two brothers followed, James Joseph (Jimmie Joe) and John William, both of whom predeceased him.

Everyone knew him as “Bob,” unless you were a Brazil High School friend and called him by his nickname, “Ick.” Bob made many lifelong friends growing up in Brazil, but the most important person he met was a pretty, spunky, dark-haired girl, when she was 15 and he was 18.  After three years of dating, Bob and Helen (Dellacca) Stearley married, and they remained so for the next 72 years.  Helen was Bob’s rock and soulmate, and they had two children, Rhonda Jo and Robert Thomas (Tom). Bob’s deep love for his family was fiercely protective and boundless, up until the very end when he could – and did – still say “I love you.”  His son-in-law, Rob Hebert, joined the family in 1986, followed by Bob’s pride and joy: his treasured granddaughter, Jillian Helen Hebert.  Until he could no longer travel, Pop-Pop and MeMa never missed the chance to visit Connecticut to watch Jillian in her plays, dance recitals and various other events.

A loyal, outgoing, mischievous, and strong-willed Stearley to his core, Bob worked hard and strived for excellence; once he set his mind to do something, that was it.  He retired from a long, successful career as a business executive, however, his favorite accomplishments included: graduating from Rose Polytechnic Institute (now the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology) with a degree in mechanical engineering and later, from the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Training program; serving on the Board of Trustees at Logan University in Chesterfield, MO; and serving as an alderman on the Frontenac (MO) City Council.  Yet despite those impressive honors, Bob’s most cherished achievement was serving his country as a proud member of the U.S. Army.  He rose to the rank of staff sergeant before receiving an honorable discharge.  He also was a member of the American Legion, the Elks, the Masonic Lodge, and the Last Man’s Club, No. 5.

Bob fed his DNA-induced competitive streak through his love of sports.  It began early when he played on Brazil High School’s Red Devils football team; over time, Bob pretty much took over the TV on weekends during every, single football season. For the past several years, he’d rooted for the Kansas City Chiefs, and to his last breath never forgave the Rams for ditching St. Louis.  He also was an avid golfer who enjoyed not only the precision of the game, but the good friends he met over the many, many holes he played and cold beers that followed. He made a hole-in-one once, to his great delight.  Bob loved the Indy 500 as well, whether attending it as a young man with his buddies or watching it on TV. 

Besides his parents and brothers, Bob was predeceased by his two beloved double cousins, Josephine (Stearley) Slack and Betty (Stearley) Datena.  To Jo, Betty, and Bob, they were siblings, not cousins.

Toward the end, Bob made clear his wish to return to the hometown he never truly left. As such, a celebration of Bob’s wonderful life is scheduled for Friday, May 19, at 1 p.m. at the Lawson-Miller Memorial Chapel, 1702 E. National Avenue, Brazil, IN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. If you knew Bob and have a story to tell, we’d love to hear it.  If you’d just like to be there to remember him, please feel free to join us. 

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to any one of the following: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Annual Giving, 5500 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, IN  47803; the Clay County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 56, 309 Main St., Center Point, IN  47840-0056; or a charity of your choice.  And if you think of it, sing “Back Home Again in Indiana” at the top of your lungs at the start of this year’s Indy 500.  Bob will be singing right along with you.  

To post a note of condolence, please visit www.frenchfuneralhome.com.