Robert Neil (Bob) Garton, 88, a life-long resident of Vernon County passed away on June 29, 2026, at Moore-Few Care Center after a stay of nine months. His family was present for the last few days of his life. He especially enjoyed this past Father’s Day. Son, Bryan, and grandsons, Josh and Logan, decorated his room with a pot consisting of a corn stalk and soybean plants from Bob’s land. The residents, nurses, and guests all enjoyed his plants and Bob enjoyed telling stories about how he loved farming. His memory was good until the end, and he loved to visit. Mr. Garton was born November 21, 1937, near Moundville, MO, less than a mile from the home Bob lived in for 67 years of his adult life. He was the son of Wendell E. and Katherine Kasten Garton. He graduated president of the class of 1956 of Bronaugh R-7 High School. Mr. Garton was married June 14, 1959, to Betty Sue Post at the United Methodist Church in Bronaugh, MO. They were married 67 years.
He attended the University of Missouri. In 1958 he was the first member of the Bronaugh FFA Chapter to be awarded the American Farmer Degree, the highest honor a member can achieve in the National FFA Organization. At that time the Nevada Daily Mail had a headline stating, “Bob Garton is Successful Young Farmer.” He was not yet 21 years of age. He established his own farming business specializing in grain, hay, and livestock. He enjoyed working, and he loved farming.
He served six years in the Missouri National Guard. He served on the board of directors of the Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce from 1975 to 1977. He was a past president of the Bronaugh School Board. He served as President on the organizing board of the first rural water district in the state of Missouri, Vernon Co Public Water District Number One at Moundville.
Mr. Garton accepted Jesus as his Savior and became a member of the Bronaugh United Methodist Church in 1955 where he served as Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of the Trustees, and Chairman of the Administrative Board. In 1998 he transferred his membership to the Nevada United Methodist Church where he attended regularly as his health would permit.
Mr. Garton was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Abou Ben Adhem Shrine, Nevada Lions Club, Lifetime member of the Nevada Rotary Club, Habitat for Humanity Board, Nevada Regional Medical Center (NRMC) Foundation Board, and served as a volunteer for the NRMC auxiliary working in the surgery waiting room area.
He was an avid snow skier beginning in 1963 and skied every year for almost 50 years. Every third week of January he and Betty could be found on the slopes of Colorado, mostly Vail and Beaver Creek, but also Winter Park, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Aspen, and Snow Mass. In Wyoming they skied Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee. He also enjoyed going to the lake and was a very good water skier. He helped many area children and adults learn how to water ski. He traveled in all 50 states and 17 countries, including Russia for three weeks in 2015.
He retired from active farming in 2002 due to health. Some wondered what he would do in retirement. “People” became his hobby, as he loved to visit. The Lions Club made him chairman of their mint project. Bob took it over like it was his own business and developed a larger route and kept the mint boxes full and the money collected. The Lions Club honored him with “Lion of the Year.” He enjoyed taking tickets at the Lions’ Pancake Breakfasts. While working on these projects he visited with everyone he came into contact. He volunteered at the hospital, and he visited people in the nursing home and hospital, and he also visited people he knew were homebound. He drove around Bronaugh, and if he saw someone on their porch he stopped to visit. He loved finding a new audience for his stories. He was happy at Moore-Few. He loved the nurses, staff, and his visitors. He told people he was ready to be with his Lord, and he wanted to see his little brother.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four-year-old brother, Monte Ray Garton.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Garton; two sons, Dr. Bryan Luke Garton and his wife, Debbie (Browning) Garton, Columbia, MO; and Bradley Todd Garton, Branson, MO; two grandsons, Joshua Tyler Garton and Logan Ryan Garton both of Columbia, MO. He is also survived by one sister, Kathy (Kent) Abele, Nevada; and niece, Kim (Terry) Sims, Carl Junction, MO.
Services will be under the direction of Ferry Funeral Home at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026, at the United Methodist Church in Nevada with Rev. Michelle Whitlock officiating. Private Cremation burial will follow at Newton Burial Park in Nevada. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, July 2, at the United Methodist Church.
Memorials may be given in his memory to the Nevada United Methodist Church c/o Ferry Funeral Home.
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