Robert Jones Coltrane

ROBERT JONES COLTRANE

11/26/1942 – 8/24/2024

Our beloved father, spouse, friend passed away peacefully with loved ones by his side on August 24, 2024.  In the moments leading up to his death, he was surrounded by or spoke to countless friends and family whose lives he touched with his humor and heart.

Bob was born in Spokane, WA, where he lived with his family until his father’s death.  Upon his mother’s remarriage, they relocated to Helena, Montana, where Bob grew up in a blended family, excelling in sports, and making many friendships that would last his entire lifetime.  

Upon graduating from college at Northern Montana State, Bob moved to Tracy, CA with his first wife, Jo, and young daughter, Joell, where he took a teaching position at Tracy High School and coached Track and Field.  After the marriage ended, Bob moved to the SF Bay Area in California, where he met Kathleen, his wife of 48 years, and taught at Palo Alto High School, also coaching Track & Field there.  Later, he transitioned into the private sector as Director of Training for Chuck E Cheese Pizza Time Theater, leading to other training positions with restaurant franchises.  In Portland, OR, he became Director of Operations for Loaves and Fishes, then moved on to become Director of Training for Papa Murphy’s Pizza, and later, Director of Human Resources.  

In Seattle, Bob owned and operated his own franchise for Papa Murphy’s before retiring.  A lifelong fly fisherman, Bob embraced retirement in Central Oregon, and worked part-time at The Patient Angler in Bend, claiming it to be “the best job I ever had”, making long standing friendships and connecting with like-minded fly fishermen and women. 

Bob is survived by his spouse and life partner Kathleen, his daughter Joell and son-in-law Spencer, grandchildren Henry and Jonica of Everett, WA; his brother and sister-in-law Gary and Donna Coltrane of Omaha, NE; his step-brother Cornelius Harrell of Bend, OR; and his dog Harry – number 5 in a long line of beloved and remarkable Scottish Terriers they were lucky enough to live with.  

In our last days together, Bob said “A party would be nice”, and we already knew he wanted his ashes scattered at East Lake, his favorite fly-fishing spot in later years.  Please join us there, if you can, on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at East Lake Resort, 22430 Paulina Lake Road, LaPine, OR  97739 12:00pm – 4:00pm. Weather permitting – Located in the Deschutes National Forest, the road is closed once the snow starts to fly, so stay tuned for a Plan “B”, if that happens,

We wish to thank Partners In Care Hospice House for their impeccable care and caring.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert Jones Coltrane, please visit our floral store.