Robert Roy Barras

On September 17, 2016, a legend passed from this life, and his name was Robert Roy Barras, but we all know him as Bob, and he was the King of Rupert.

It’s a difficult thing, to try and encompass the larger-than-life personality, the charisma and crudeness, the warmth and affection that Bob possessed in a few words.

Bob, was a friend to all. This may sound like typical obituary speak, but you have to believe it: he made friends with everyone. It didn’t matter if you were in front of him in line at the grocery store, sitting next to him in an airport bar, or buying gas from him at the Zip-Fer Gas and Grocery in Paul, Idaho, you were his bud. You could go anywhere in this great country with Bob and someone would come out of the woodwork and greet him warmly. If Bob didn’t remember the person it didn’t matter at all, without missing a beat he’d greet them with a “How the hell are yeah?!” and a conversation would ensue. If you asked who the person was after they walked away, Bob would call them Old Gravy and tell a story about them (which may not have been true, but it was always a good one none-the-less).

Bob had a way about him that allowed him to speak freely without fear of offending anyone or getting in trouble. He swore like a sailor, but even in the most pious of company it was fine, just laughed off. No matter how serious the occasion or the location, he would lean over to the person closest to him to offer a scandalous dirty joke much to the delight of the receiver. Old women in-particular loved to sidle up next to Bob just for this pleasure. Every morning Bob would join his coffee group at the Happy Camper in Rupert. These daily meetings were very important to him, though exactly what they talked about he couldn’t remember later in the day. Sitting with his buddies drinking coffee and swapping big fish stories was a main stay though, and nothing could keep him from attending.

Bob came from humble beginnings. He spent his first five years of life in a box car in Rock Springs, Wyoming without running water or electricity. Such dire circumstances lit an entrepreneurial flame in him, and from a very young age he worked hard and he worked smart at making a living. Rumor has it that after starting his first paper route, he figured out how to make more money by monopolizing all of the routes and paying other kids under the table a lesser wage to help him out. He gave college a shot, but after a year he left and went to work for Andy McRoberts at his gas station in Rupert, which he eventually bought and renamed Bob’s Chevron. Later, he’d sell the Chevron to take advantage of the thriving scene in Paul, Idaho and opened Zip-Fer Gas and Grocery. He was successful in his ventures, despite his kindness in providing good-faith credit accounts to customers in need of necessities. Although these accounts were rarely paid, he kept giving on credit anyway. Bob could never be accused of lacking in compassion.

Bob loved his family. There are people who live their whole lives wondering if their father ever loved them, but that has never been the case for his son Brent and his daughter Tori. He adored his grandkids Aaron and Taylor, and was recently thrilled to welcome his great-granddaughter Sadie into the world. He didn’t miss a beat in making his daughter-in-law Amy and her son Zeke feel like they were his own. Bob and his wife Nan were set to celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary on September 29th. One cannot think of Bob without Nan, his constant companion, his best friend, the bad cop to his good cop when it came to making customers pay for something. Since their retirement, they especially enjoyed traveling together, eating the best food, having cocktails with their friends, and caring for their home. Bob grew an incredible garden, and Nan made the most amazing meals from its bounty.

Bob was proceeded in death by his father, Fred Barras; his mother, Avery McLane; his step-father, Odell McLane; his brother, Fred Barras; and his in-laws, Calvin and Hazel Braegger. He is survived by his loving wife, Nan Barras; his son, Brent Barras; his daughter, Tori Barras Shockey and daughter-in-law, Amy Griffin; and his grandchildren, Aaron Shockey, Taylor Werner, Zeke Griffin, and great-granddaughter Sadie Christine Werner.

There will be no funeral services, which is what Bob wanted. However, if you wanted to have a gin and tonic in his honor, he would have been more than fine with that. As a child in Rock Springs, Bob would sing for The Salvation Army Choir in exchange for shoes and clothing, a luxury he surely would have gone without otherwise. He never passed a bell ringer without putting money in the red bucket. For that reason, Bob’s family asks that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to The Salvation Army, a tribute he would surely appreciate.

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