Sgt. 1st Class Robert Wayne Pharris (Seymour)'s Obituary
Sergeant First Class Robert Wayne Pharris, the son of Alvin Wayne and Judy Ruth (Grasher) Pharris, was born September 9, 1962, in Independence, Missouri. He departed this life January 5, 2011, in Afghanistan at the age of forty-eight years, three months and twenty-seven days.
Robert was born in Independence and in his youth, his family moved to a farm near Mansfield, Missouri, to make their home. It was here that he learned to appreciate life and began his compassion to help other people. In 1981 he enlisted in the United States Army and later with the Army National Guard. He served for more than fourteen years of service in a variety of assignments. He had served as an infantryman, a drill sergeant, and recruiter. He left the military in 1997 for eleven years and worked as an over-the-road truck driver for three years and then re-joined the Missouri National Guard in 2008. He was a member of the infantry unit and Missouri National Guard’s Agri-business Development Teams who taught the Afghans how to plant and replenish their land.
On March 25, 1998, he was united in marriage to Pamala Dawn Fisher and they made their home on a farm near Seymour, Missouri. He loved the outdoors and when he was driving the truck he said it gave him time to get closer to God. He loved to help people through tough times and always encouraged Pamala to stay involved in community and area events. He called his farm a “Little Piece of Heaven on Earth” because of the wildlife, the hills, and trees. He truly loved his home in Seymour and thought that it was planned for his family to live here. He and Pamala attended Zion Lutheran Church in Diggins, Missouri.
Robert is survived by his loving wife, Pamala of the home; four children, Corporal Benjamin Joseph Pharris, serving in Afghanistan with the United States Marine Corps, and Robert Wayne Pharris, Jr,, Susan Christine Pharris, and Daniel Andrew Pharris, all of Germany; two grandchildren, Noah and Stella; his parents, Alvin and Judy Pharris, of Henryetta, Oklahoma; his grandparents, Charles Louis and Elaine Grasher, of Macomb, Missouri; a brother, Charles Floyd Pharris, of Stockton, Missouri ; four sisters, Debra Ann Tripp of Grove, Oklahoma, Ellen June Henderson and husband, Ron of Ventura, California, Julie Annette Hutson and husband, Jeff, of Edmond, Oklahoma, and JoLynn Louise Pemberton and husband, John, of Henryetta, Oklahoma; a number of nieces and nephews; an uncle, Charles Louis Grasher, Jr. of Blue Springs, Missouri; four aunts, Lola Lewis, of Harrisonville, Missouri, Pamela Graham and husband, Jack, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Carolyn Fears and husband, Frank, of Overland Park, Kansas, and Naomi Taylor and husband, Robert, of Kansas City, Missouri; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
He was a light-hearted man with a great sense of humor, and he loved spending time with Pamala and Ben, playing games on his X Box and PS-3. He was a referee for Federation Soccer and his favorite team was Manchester United, and he was a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan. He enjoyed reading about historical wars and the warriors that participated in them.
Robert was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, grandson, brother and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. He was a brave citizen –soldier who cared for and looked after his fellow soldiers. He is a true “American Hero” and we will forever remember the sacrifice he made for us and his country.
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