Robert Malson

Robert Forrest Malson, age 88, of Gravois Mills (Laurie), Missouri, passed away Monday, February 3, 2025, at Kansas City Hospice House. He was born November 2, 1936, in Akron, Ohio, son of the late George Delbert and Dorothy Jane (Hess) Malson.

As a young man, Bob enjoyed playing football, enjoying the outdoors and ultimately achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

Bob was a proud graduate of Cuyohoga Falls High School and subsequently attended Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and earned his Chemical Engineering Degree in 1959. While at Case, Bob had the good fortune of meeting the great American poet Robert Frost, as well as one of the the most famous baby doctors and authors ever-Dr. Benjamin Spock.

Following graduation from Case, Bob had a brief stint at Goodyear Aerospace and then proceeded to go to work in the salt mines-for real! He worked at Diamond Crystal, International Salt and Hardy Salt before moving on to spend the rest of his career with Abbott Labs.

Bob was fortunate enough to have had two great loves in his life. His first marriage to Carol Lynne Cavileer (1959) produced four children and ended with her premature death from cancer in 1989.

As Bob was still a young man (and quite eligible in the small town of Antioch, Illinois), he found his second loving companion in Candace Ann Gentleman whom he married in 1990. Candace brought along three ‘bonus’ children. As their father had passed, Bob truly became a father to them in every meaning of the word.

Bob was a very intelligent and curious man, and loved to read (he especially loved history-reading about it, talking about it and teaching it), travel (he and Candace LOVED to cruise and had many adventures), and for many years with both of his wives loved to square dance and round dance. He and Candace actually became quite proficient in round dancing and enjoyed it for many years.

Bob mentioned many times that he and Candace had finally found the home and location of their dreams when they landed in Laurie, Missouri. Bob had converted to Catholicism several years prior, and he and Candace became active members of the St. Patrick Catholic Church and where Bob also joined the Knights of Columbus. Bob loved the town, the surroundings, but most of all the people who became his dear friends-some of whom truly showed the meaning of the word in his several months following the death of his beloved Candace.

Robert is survived by his children, Kimberly Ivonne Thibodeaux and husband Dwight, Trisha Lynn Simons and husband Dan, Michael David Malson and wife Anja, Christopher Andrew Gentleman and wife Dana, Kristin Rose Conklin and husband Tom and Daniel Robert Gentleman and fiancée Allison; grandchildren, Briahn Marie Simons, Dan Counseller Simons, Nicholas Mcvickar, Sydnie Conklin and Kody Ray Hatfield; brother William Marshall Malson and wife Denise; nephew Richard Allen Malson and wife Ellen, as well as many other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol Lynne (Cavileer), his second wife Candace Ann (Gentleman) and son, David Christopher Malson.

Bob is also survived by his two furry constant companions, Skipper and Gilligan, who will have a new exciting life on a ranch in Montana with Kristin's family.

The family would also like to extend very special thanks to Manny Newton and his wife April for being there when it really counted.

A Mass of Catholic Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday February 15th at St. Patrick's Church in Laurie with Father John Schmitz celebrating. Following the Mass, a luncheon will be served in the Hall. Inurnment will be held at St. Patrick's Cemetery for immediate family only.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested for the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church.

Expressions of sympathy may be left online at www.kidwellgarber.com. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Laurie/Sunrise Beach Chapel.